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DECEMBER 29TH, 2012

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[SSC-FCI] Main Exam: English Language & Comprehension Previous Years Paper, Topicwise breakup
Based on the SSC-FCI Assistant Grade III mains exam held on April 2012.
Topicwise Breakup
Reading comprehension (15Qs)
Passage with Blanks (20Qs)
Sentence improvement (10Qs)
Direct/Indirect Speech (10Qs)
Active-Passive (10Qs)
Idioms and Phrases (5Qs)
Synonyms- Antonyms (10Qs)
Fill in the blanks (5Q)
Sentence Correction (10Q)
Sentence Arrangement(5Q)

Topicwise Breakup

If you rearrange the same data differently then:

English Grammar

Qs

Vocabulary

Qs

RC and SA

Qs

Sentence improvement

10

Idioms and Phrases

Comprehension

15

Direct/Indirect Speech

10

Synonyms

Sentence Arrangement 5

Active-Passive

10

Antonyms

Sentence Correction

10

Fill in the blanks

Passage with Blanks 20

Total:
Meaning,

40

40

20

majority of the paper is occupied with English grammar and Vocab (40-40),
remaining gap is filled up with Reading comprehension and Sentence arrangement questions (20) to make up 100 questions.

Reading comprehension (15Qs)

RC#1: Humor and Jokes (10qs)
The common people have a way of laughing at their own misfortunes. They can also laugh at their oppressors. Satire became a habit
with them while they groaned under the oppression of kings, priests and plutocrats. In contemporary India, the politician and the
bureaucrat are the ones they take their revenge upon. There is much humour in Indian proverbs. Even the Gods are not spared. There is
a special form of worship called ninda-stuti, praise by dispraiseReal humour in India, as else-where, is contained within the different
languages and it is difficult for Indians of one region to understand the humour of another.India is also by tradition a class-ridden and
hierarchical society.
Excessive reverence is shown to elders and to those in authority, though this may be changing. Sons and daughters dont usually joke
with their parents and vice-versa; a boss cant afford to be seen in a mood of levity with his employees; the landlord wouldnt dream of
sharing a joke with his peasant labourers. The path to wit and humour is strewn with pitfalls. With Indian intellectuals, solemnity is a
motto. Many of them wouldnt be seen dead with a joke. And the higher they go in the cerebral scale, the drier they become.
1. Who does not oppress the commoner?
a. Authors .
b. Plutocrats
c. Bureaucrats
d. Politicians

6. According to the passage, the Indian intellectuals are by nature

a. the rulers
b. the bureaucrats
c. the youngsters
d. the common public

2. Who laughs at their own misfortunes?

a. Intellectuals
b. Commoners
c. Politicians
d. Kings

7. Satire became a habit for

a. witty
b. solemn
c. humorous
d. rich

3. Whom do the commoners laugh at?

a. Misfortunes
b. Oppressors
c. Intellectuals
d. Writers

8. A plutocrat is
a. a bureaucrat
b. an alien
c. a labourer
d. a rich person

4. Cerebral scale means

a. a device to measure height
b. a device to measure intelli-gence
c. intellectual ability
d. head massager

9. A ninda-stuti is
a. a dispraise by praise
b. a hymn
c. a praise by dispraise
d. a proverb

5. Who becomes drier in the matter of wit?

a. The greater intellectual
b. The lesser intellectual
c. The commoner
d. An employee

10. Who often find themselves at the end of the common peoples sarcastic wit?
a. Sons and daughters
b. Parents and elders
c. Labourers
d. Politicians and bureaucrats
RC#2: Keeping the Art alive (5Qs)

The art of storytelling is not bad and it will not be allowed to die. The invention of printing, literacy and the average mans increasing
enslavement to visual media in the recent decades threatened to stamp out the art altogether.
It faces a nutrient even in Indian homes, at least in urban areas, where it has been kept alive for centuries by indulgent and mothers
using the tales of Princes, princesses and flying horses for lullaby.
1. Which or who of the following have kept this art alive for centuries?
a. Invention of printing and progress of literacy
b. changing in mens likes and dislikes
c. indulgent grandmothers
d. urban people in India
2. Why is it necessary to keep the art alive?
a. There is a heavy demand for it
b. deals with stories of princes, princesses and flying horses.
c. Children love to listen to stories.

d. All grandmothers like to tell stories.

3. art as used in the paragraph refers to
a. a habit of grandmothers
b. story telling
c. stories from epics
d. artificial way of story telling
4. tales in this paragraph relate to
a. stories of competitions held in schools
b. bedtime stories
c. stories of princes, princesses and flying horses
d. tragic stories
5. According to the passage, the threat to story telling is the result of
a. invention of printing, literacy and mans enslavement to visual media
b. invention of new methods of entertainment
c. lack of interest in telling stories and listening to the stories
d. unwillingness of urban people to tell stories.

Passage with Blanks (20Qs)

Passage#1: Happiest Person
The happiest person is the one who enjoys what life offers. (b1) age has its pleasures and its pains. Old age has always been thought of
as the (b2) age to be. But it is not (b3) for the old to be unhappy. With old age should come (b4) and the ability to guide others with
(b5) wisely given. The old can have the joy of seeing their (b6) making progress in life. They can watch their grandchildren (b7) up
around them. If (b8) life has been a useful one, they can feel the happiness of having come through the (b9) of life (b10).
Questions:

b1. (1) Each (2) All (3) No (4) Everyb2. (1) worst (2) best (3) dreadful (4) impossibleb3.
(1) proper (2) needful (3) necessary (4) unnecb4. (1) knowledge (2) studies (3) learning (4)
wisdom
b5. (1) riches (2) advice (3) money (4) property
b6. (1) parents (2) ancestors (3) children (4) neighbours
b7. (1) looking (2) growing (3) climbing (4) chatting
b8. (1) our (2) his (3) mine (4) their
b9. (1) attack (2) war (3) battle (4) skirmish
b10. (1) badly (2) successfully (3) bitterly (4) sorrowfully

Passage#2: Timely Actions

Timely actions are always (b1) When a cloth gets torn it must mended (b2), if it is to be us the act of stitching is (b3) , the may become
bigger and it may more stitches and the cloth may come (b4) for use. In the same ner, whenever any action is to be it must be done at
the (b5) When (b6) comes, we must utilize or else the delay may result in (b7) failure and (b8). So remember (b9), stitch (b10) time
saves nine.
b1. (1) hopeful (2) essential (3) beneficial (4) usefulb2. (1) later (2) .at once (3) then (4) next dayb3. (1) undone (2) left (3) rejected
(4) postponedb4. (1) ugly (2) worst (3) unfit (4) waste
b5. (1) fixed (2) appropriate (3) accurate (4) constant
b6. (1) opportunity (2) time (3) chance (4) luck
b7. (1) enjoyment (2)disaster (3) destruction (4) disappointment

b8. (1) sorrow (2) tragedy (3) unhappiness (4) joy

b9. (1)nine (2) a (3) no (4) any
b10. (1)in (2) on a any (4) over

Sentence improvement (10Qs)

In the following questions, a part of the sentence is printed in *bold*. Alternatives are given in answer-choices, which may improve the
statement. Pick the correct alternative.
6. She *gave* most of her time to dance.
a. lent
b. spent
c. devoted
d. No improvement

1. The music show *began* when we arrived in the hall.

a. had begun
b. had began
c. would begin
d. No improvement

7. The people *criticized* the terrorist attack.

a. condoned
b. condemned
c. conceded
d. No improvement

2. There will be *black* murder when she hears this.

a. red
b. blue.
c. pink
d. No improvement

8. Surbhis father did not want her *to have spent* all her money
at the fair.
a. to be spending
b. to have been spending
c. to spend
d. No improvement

3. The congregation believes that *it has selected* a suitable

preacher.
a. it has been selected
b. it have selected
c. it has select
d. No improvement

9. Basmati rice is *more superior than* most other varieties of

rice.
a. superior than
b. more superior to
c. superior to
d. No improvement

4. My group of tenth-graders *are such well behaved.*

a. is so well behaved
b. are so well behaved
c. is such well behaved
d. No improvement
5. My *admonishing to him* will not change his mind.
a. admonishing at him
b. admonishing him
c. admonishing for him
d. No improvement

10. Those were the days when we *would all go out* together.
a. will all go out
b. will be going out
c. would have been going
d. No improvement

Direct/Indirect Speech (10Qs)

In the following questions, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect form. From the given answer choices, select the best choice that
expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct form.
1. The Principal told us, Wait here till I return.
a. The Principal told us wait here till he return.
b. The Principal told us to wait there till he returned.
c. The Principal told us to wait there till return,
d. The Principal told us please wait here till he returned.
2. My mother said to me, Who is your best friend ?
a. My mother questioned me as to who my best friend was.
b. My mother asked me who is my best friend.
c. My mother asked me who my best friend was.
d. My mother asked me who my best friend is
3. The teacher said to the boys, If you do your best you will surely pass.
a. The teacher asked the boys to work hard so that they can pass.
b. The teacher told the boys that unless they work hard they will not pass.
c. The teacher requested the boys that if they work better, they will surely pass.
d. The teacher told the boys that if they did their best they would surely pass.
4. The boy pleaded that he had not stolen the book.

a.
b.
c.
d.

The boy said, I dont steal the book.

The boy said, I didnt steal the book.
The bOy said, I hadnt stolen the book.
The boy said, t 1 havent stolen the book.

5. Kavitha said, I saw the photograph.

a. Kavitha told that she saw the photograph.
b. Kavitha said that she had seen the photograph.
c. Kavitha said that the photograph was seen by her.
d. Kavitha said that she has seen the photograph.
6. The king said to his men, Put the man in prison.
a. The king implored his men to put the man in prison.
b. The king commanded his men to put the man in prison.
c. The king requested his men to put the man in prison.
d. The king informed his men to put the man in prison.
7. He said, I have made a kite.
a. He says that he made a kite.
b. He will say that he had made a kite.
c. He said that I had made a kite.
d. He said that he had made a kite.
8. Dravids neighbour said, Do you like to play golf ?
a. Dravids neighbour questioned him and said if he liked to play golf.
b. Dravids neighbour asked him to like golf.
c. Dravids neighbour asked him if he would like to .play golf.
d. Dravids neighbour asked him if he liked to play golf.
9. She announced that they had selected Pradeep as their leader.
a. She said, Pradeep is our leader.
b. She announced, We have selected Pradeep as our leader.
c. She announced, Let us se-, lect Pradeep as our leader.
d. She declared, Pradeep had been selected as our leader.
10. He told the boy not to sit there.
a. Didnt sit here, he said to the boy.
b. Dont sit there, he said to the boy.
c. Didnt sit there, he said to the boy.
d. Dont sit here, he said to the boy.

Active-Passive (10Qs)
Change the voice of the given question statements
1. The whole village was ravaged by the man-eater.
a. The man-eater ravages the whole village.
b. The whole village is ravaged by the man-eater.
c. The man-eater ravaged the whole village.
d. The whole village is being ravaged by the man-eater.
2. The purity of justice is maintained by the reports of proceedings in the law courts.
a. The law courts maintain purity of justice in the reports of the proceedings.
b. The reports of the proceedings of the law courts maintain the purity of justice.
c. Pure justice is maintained in the proceedings of the law courts.
d. The maintanance of justice is pure in the proceedings of the law courts.
3. He handed her a chair.
a. She was handed a chair by him.
b. He handed a chair to her.
c. He will hand a chair to her.
d. A chair will be handed to her by him.
4. Call the police at once.
a. Let the police be called at once.
b. The police was to be called at once.
c. The police is to be called at once.
d. Let the police called at once.
5. Post the letter.

a.
b.
c.
d.

The letter is posted.

The letter was posted.
Let the letter be posted.
The letter will be posted.

6. Who painted it?

a. It was painted?
b. Was it painted?
c. Had it been painted by?
d. By whom was it painted?
7. Newton wrote this letter yesterday
a. Yesterday was written letter by Newton.
b. This letter is written by Newton yesterday.
c. This letter was written by Newton yesterday
d. This letter was wrote by Newton yesterday
8. An awareness is being created among the people by the government about the importance of trees.
a. The Government is creating awareness among the people about the importance of trees.
b. The Government are creating awareness among the people about the importance of trees.
c. The Government awareness an about the b trees.
d. The Governs awareness an about the trees.
9. Ads on TV increase the sale of any commodity.
a. The sale of any commodity is being increased by ads on TV.
b. The sale of any commodity are increased by ads on TV.
c. The sale of any commodity are being increased by ads on TV.
d. The sale of any commodity is increased by ads on TV.
10. The Indian Government is encouraging the Europeans to visit India.
a. The Europeans are encouraged by the Indian government to visit India
b. The Europeans are encouraing the Indian government to visit India.
c. The Europeans are being encouraged by the Indian government to visit India
d. The Europeansis encouraged by the Indian government to visit India

Idioms and Phrases (5Qs)

1. To take one to task
a. to reprove
b. to take care of
c. to approve
d. to give a job
2. A red letter day
a. an important day
b. an auspicious day
c. a dangerous day
d. an unimportant day
3. To cast away
a. to leave a place
b. to discard for ever
c. to develop new habits
d. to keep in a hospital

4. To give a cold shoulder

a. to rub shoulder
b. to tease
c. to take no notice of
d. to give a cold shower
5. To kick the bucket
a. to die
b. to escape
c. to attack
d. to disappear

Synonyms- Antonyms (10Qs)

Synonyms (5Q)
1. Apparent
a. Glaring
b. Vague
c. Similar
d. Dress
2. Discourse
a. Sermon
b. Calamity
c. Intricate
d. Worsen

Antonyms (5Q)
a. Vague
a. Unclear
b. Definite
c. Cloudy
d. Ambiguous
b. Perfect
a. Imperfect
b. Ugly
c. Defect
d. Complete
a. Explicit

3. Bombastic
a. Pompous
b. Sensitive
c. Rapid (4) sufficient
4. Customary
a. Unusual
b. Traditional
c. Rare
d. Exceptional
5. Slain
a. Pained
b. Wronged
c. Duped
d. Killed

b.
c.
d.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Implicit
Surplus
Superfluous
Profit
Disadvantage
Boon
None of the above
Obsolete
New
Boutique
Physique
Deficit
Bane
Antique

Fill in the blanks (5Q)

1. He felt _____ making so many mistakes.
a. worthy of
b. aware of
c. ashamed of
d. fond of
2. The chief guest _____ the prizes.
a. gave up
b. gave in
c. gave away
d. gave way
3. This problem _____ a lot of thought.
a. calls for
b. comes across
c. calls on
d. comes into

4. Which is ____ longest river in India?

a. a
b. an
c. the
d. No article
5. I promise to you in all circumstances.
a. stand up to
b. stand with
c. stand off
d. stand by

Sentence Correction (10Q)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He caught the boy,(a)/ steal (b)/the parcel. (c)/ No error. (d)

I am (a)/ taller than you .(b)/ arent I ? (c)/ No error. (d)
A man of fifty (a)/ cannot he called (b)/ as young. (c)/ No error. (d)
One of my (a)/ brothers live (b)/in U.S.A. (c)/ No error. (d)
I will (a)/ meet him (b)/ when he will come. (c) No error. (d)
I will not (a)/ agree to (b)/ the proposal. (c)/ No error. (d)
He wanted to go (a)/ to home (b)/ as he was sick. (c)/ No error. (d)
Either you (a)/ or he (b)/ are happy. (c)/ No error. (d)
In her address (a)/ she advised us to protect (b)/ our nation. (c)/ No error. (d)
Besides me (a)/ many other (b)/were present. (c)/ No error. (d)

Sentence Arrangement(5Q)
In the following questions, the first and last parts of the sentence are given correctly. The rest of the sentence is split into four parts and
named P, Q, R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence and find out which of the four
combinations is correct.
1. (First Statement) The CentreP. for vehicles carrying food
articlesQ. on the windshield andR. has made it mandatory

2. (First Statement) The manP. would have given himQ. was

singularly inconspicuousR. and no one passing him in the street

S. to display details

S. who was called Alfred Not,

(Last Statement) the rear screen.

(Last Statement) another look.

a.
b.
c.
d.

RPSQ
PQRS
SRQP
PRQS

a.
b.
c.
d.

SQRP
RPQS
PRQS
QRSP

3. (First Statement) If my fatherP. gives meQ. I shall spendR. 4. (First Statement) R.K. Narayans charactersP. merchants, hermits,
permission
teachers, etc.Q. come from everyR. and represent in miniature
S. a few months

S. area of Indian society

(Last Statement) abroad

(Last Statement) a wealth of human experience.

a.
b.
c.
d.

QRPS
PARS
PRQS
QPRS

5. (First Statement) ElephantsP. in their feetQ. to sense

seismic vibrationsR. have special bones
S. that enable them
(Last Statement) long before we can.
a.
b.
c.
d.

QRSP
PRQS
RPSQ
RSQP

a.
b.
c.
d.

PRQS
QSPR
RPSQ
SQPR

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23 comments to [SSC-FCI] Main Exam: English Language & Comprehension Previous Years Paper,
Topicwise breakup

SAIRA
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mrunal sir plz send that of paper 3 i.e technical as wellthanx in advance

SAIRA
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n also which book is useful for preparing biological sciences

Arjun
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Mrunal

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I owe you big time..

mohit kakkar
Reply to this comment
sir please refer some books for fci tier 2
will ssc cgl practice papers be enough??

Mrunal
Reply to this comment
yes SSC CGL papers will help, because topicwise breakup and difficulty level remains more or less the same.
if your math and english concepts are good just practice them,
some other good books, if youve time:
1. Objective General English by SP Bakshi (Arihant)
2. Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma OR R.S. Agarwals book on quantitative aptitude.
for Geometry and Trignometry start with NCERT math textbooks particularly class 8-10. (can be downloaded for free)

mohit
Reply to this comment
thanks sir!!
can u please also tell, which practice papers book would be better out of the following
1.arihants ssc 30 practice sets or
2 R guptas ssc previous year papers

Mrunal
Reply to this comment
I suggest buy Kiran Prakashans paperset of original SSC papers and then solve them. they also have mock test papers set
for Tier II.

Bhaskar
Reply to this comment
Sir, may i get quantitative part of paperII 2012.

shaz
Reply to this comment
sirr
a smaal dbt.we hav to be acquainted with the above type of questions for csat also sirr???
or
is thr any particular pattern for the csat paper 2
thankuu

shaz
Reply to this comment
sir
.we hav to be acquainted with the above type of questions for csat also sirr???
or
is thr any particular pattern for the csat paper 2
thankuu si

mohd sohel
Reply to this comment
sir what about paper 3 .
plz help us also

anuj kumar
Reply to this comment
sir, plz which will be the best for me for fci main exam math section and also ssc tier-1.

anuj kumar
Reply to this comment
sir, can u tell me anywesite or link to download csir- cae previous year papers.

Smit
Reply to this comment
Sir please give me the information of cut of ssc food corporation of India paper 3 science and paper sample of paper 3 please sir thanks in
advance please sir. As possible early sir

ANURAG
Reply to this comment
Sir, can final year students give ssc cgl this year?

Dev
Reply to this comment
SIR,MANY MANY THANKS TO U.CAN U SAY WHT WAS THE CUT OFF MARK IN LAST YEARS FCI MAIN EXAM.

Malathi
Reply to this comment
Sir,My name is Malathi.I qualified for the second paper in fci Asst grade -3 .Can you please suggest me some books????I have Kiran
prakashan paper 2 practice workbook suggest me other books combined books or individually for english and quant .Sir ,please help me..
Thank you so much ..

MERCY EVANJALIN
Reply to this comment
sir pls give me success tips to completed ias exam in the first appearance

shiva
Reply to this comment
give some gyaan on quant too sir !!

sudeshna
Reply to this comment
sir will provide answers with the questions. then we shall judge ourselves with the ability to answer.

ROSHIDUL ISLAM MOLLAH

Reply to this comment
I am a B.TECH second year student student and i have to appear in IAS&IPS exam, so how can i prepare for these exam???? plz reply in
my email id

Anju
Reply to this comment
I am an engineering 2nd year student. I have lived in US for 10 years before I joined engineering in India, so I have no idea how to
prepare for the exams. Please reply to: music97luver@gmail.com

Mallikarjun
Reply to this comment
thank u sir