EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam., 2009 Paper

EPFO Social Security Assistant Exam., 2009
(Held on 6-9-2009)
English Language
Directions—(Q. 1–10) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

The Emperor had inherited a peaceful and prosperous kingdom at a young age after the untimely death of his father. A few months later a man arrived at court. He stated that he was from a far off land and had the gift of foresight. He impressed the Emperor with his witty remarks and was appointed a courtier. The Emperor and those at court all enjoyed hearing accounts of his travels. One day the newly appointed minister said, “Your Majesty, you are destined for great things. It is written in the stars. I have learnt the art of fortune telling. Do not be content with your kingdom alone. Travel, see the world and conquer. There are many who are oppressed. They will bless you for rescuing them from the tyranny of their rulers.” The Emperor was stunned to hear this but he refused to discuss the matter at the time. The courtiers too were astonished to hear this and began debating among themselves. “It is true,” they said. “Our Emperor’s father was a great warrior and he ruled wisely. Perhaps there is truth in this.” So the newly appointed courtier shrewdly planted the idea of waging war against other kingdoms at court. After hearing several repeated arguments in favour of this idea the Emperor finally agreed. He was a young man and a battle seemed to be exciting and an adventure. So the newly appointed minister planned the first campaign against a smaller neighbouring kingdom. The Emperor knew the ruler was cruel and felt justified in waging war against him. Having the superior army he easily defeated the king. Everyone celebrated. But the campaign did not stop there.

With every victory the new minister would urge the Emperor on the next battle. The soldiers grew tired after over two years at war but did not complain out of respect and loyalty to their ruler. Meanwhile the situation in his kingdom began to deteriorate. With no one to look after the daily administration and to resolve disputes, signs of neglect began to be seen. The Emperor was no longer bothered if he was freeing the oppressed when he attacked a kingdom. He would plunder their riches to fund his wars. The new minister who was in charge of these funds kept a large part for himself and grew richer. An old man who had been a minister in the Emperor’s father’s court grew worried and decided to do something about this situation. A few days later when the Emperor was out riding in the forest, he suddenly saw the old man. He greeted him like an old friend and inquired what he was doing there. The man pointed to two owls in the trees. “I am listening to their conversation”. “What are they saying ?” The Emperor asked unbelieving. “They are negotiating the marriage of their children. The first owl wants to know whether the other will be gifting his daughter fifty villages on her wedding day. To which the second one replied that he would have to gift her one hundred and fifty as the villages were in ruins and as such were worthless but with the Emperor as ruler there would be many such villages.” When the Emperor heard this he realized the error of his ways. He returned home immediately, rewarded the old minister putting him incharge of reconstructing the ruined villages and dismissed the fortune teller from his court.

1. How did the minister convince the Emperor to attack the neighbouring kingdom ?
(1) He bribed the courtiers to convince the Emperor that he could be a great ruler
(2) He told the Emperor that his father was a great warrior and would want his son to follow in his footsteps.
(3) He convinced the Emperor that there was no risk involved since his father’s army was inferior to that of the Emperor.
(A) All (1), (2) and (3)
(B) Both (1) and (3)
(C) Only (2)
(D) Only (3)
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

2. What effect did the Emperor’s victories have on his people ?
(A) Their respect for him grew with every victory
(B) They prospered as the Emperor spent all the money he plundered on his people
(C) They experienced many daily administrative difficulties
(D) They grew discontented as they had not seen their family members who were in the army for several months
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

3. Which of the following best describes the newly appointed minister ?
(1) He was cunning and manipulated the Emperor into going to war.
(2) He was dishonest and stole from the Emperor.
(3) He was jealous of the old minister.
(A) Both (1) and (2)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Both (1) and (3)
(D) Only (1)
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)


4. Why was the man appointed as a courtier ?
(A) He claimed that he was a relative of the Emperor’s from a distant country
(B) He pleased the Emperor with the gifts he bought and stories about his adventures
(C) He told the Emperor that he would become extremely rich one day
(D) He flattered the Emperor more than the other courtiers did
(E) The Emperor enjoyed his company
Ans : (D)

5. Which of the following can be said about the old man ?
(1) The Emperor had removed him from his post on his father’s death.
(2) The Emperor respected his judgement.
(3) He saw how prosperous the new minister had become and he too wanted to become rich.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) Both (1) and (3)
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

6. Which of the following is true in the context of the passage ?
(A) The Emperor’s father inheri-ted his kingdom at a very young age
(B) The soldiers followed the Emperor only because they were afraid of him
(C) It took time at first to convince the Emperor to conquer other kingdoms
(D) The Emperor was afraid to wage war against the neighbouring kingdom because its ruler was cruel
(E) After his father’s death the Emperor had to wage many wars to ensure his kingdom remained peaceful
Ans : (C)

7. What was the Emperor’s reaction when he saw the old minister ?
(A) He was ashamed to see him because he had replaced him with a new minister
(B) He was relieved to see him because he wanted his advice
(C) He felt sorry for the old man because he was talking to birds
(D) He was pleased to see him
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

8. What justification did the courtier give for attacking the neighbouring kingdom ?
(A) The Emperor needed the money to maintain his army
(B) The money was needed for the benefit of the Emperor’s subjects and to ensure the kingdom did not fall into debt
(C) To better the condition of its people who were being unjustly treated by their ruler
(D) It was his father’s last wish
(E) Its ruler had attacked the Emperor’s kingdom during his father’s reign
Ans : (C)

9. Why did the Emperor reward the old man ?
(A) For his talent of talking to birds
(B) He was succesful at reconstructing the destroyed villages
(C) He felt sorry for his plight in his old age and wanted to do something to help
(D) For narrating an imaginative story to the Emperor
(E) For showing the Emperor where his duty lay
Ans : (E)

10. Under what circumstances did the Emperor inherit his kingdom ?
(A) His father was suddenly killed in battle
(B) His courtiers requested him to become king
(C) He inherited the kingdom on reaching a particular age
(D) His father had died after an illness
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 11–13) Choose the word/group of words which is Most Similar in Meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

11. GLITTERED
(A) Pulsed
(B) Fluctuated
(C) Sparkled
(D) Winked
(E) Flickered
Ans : (C)

12. ENGROSSED
(A) Engraved
(B) Occupied
(C) Embedded
(D) Embossed
(E) Angered
Ans : (B)

13. DISPOSITION
(A) Temperament
(B) Body
(C) Work
(D) Dance
(E) Smile
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 14 and 15) Choose the word/group of words which is Most Opposite in Meaning to the word / group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

14. WEAK
(A) Feeble
(B) Proper
(C) Muscular
(D) Rough
(E) Loud
Ans : (C)

15. PLEASED
(A) Painful
(B) Cheerful
(C) Harsh
(D) Discontented
(E) Rude
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and ‘No correction is required’, mark (E) as the answer.

16. Jyotsna quickly got ready to go to the party and asked her husband to do the same.
(A) getting ready to went
(B) getting ready to go
(C) get ready to go
(D) got ready to went
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)

17. We should be happy with whatever we are having and not be greedy—
(A) whatever we are have
(B) whatever is being had
(C) whatever we have
(D) whatever we has
(E) No correction required
Ans : (C)

18. The old lady was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were tattering.(A) was in tatter
(B) were in tatters
(C) were for tatter
(D) were tatter
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)

19. She loved buying fashionable clothes and spent quite an amounts of money on them.
(A) quite an amount
(B) quite a amounts
(C) quite amounts
(D) quite some amounts
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)

20. Her love for animals grow each day as she watched her pet dog, Bruno, grow, up.
(A) growing every day
(B) grows every day
(C) growth each day
(D) grew each day
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 21–25) In each question below, a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are lettered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate, if any. The letter of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e., ‘All correct’ as your answer.

21. The boss was weary (A) angry with his subordinate (B) and reprimanded (C) him on his behaviour. (D) All correct. (E)
Ans : (A)

22. We must work (A) hard and not relay (B) on the kindness (C) of others for our daily (D) needs. All correct (E)
Ans : (B)

23. Even the most distant (A) dream can be realized (B) with determenation (C) and persistence. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (C)

24. Vikram was sleeping (A) at night (B) in his cabin when suddenly (C) his room filled with lite. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (D)

25. Your encouraging (A) words can lift someone (B) up and help him or her make (C) it through (D) the day. All correct (E)
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 26–30) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them—
(1) This dwindling down was because the body had discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive nails into the fence.
(2) Once there was a little boy who had a very bad temper.
(3) Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all.
(4) The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the the fence.
(5) Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
(6) His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.

26. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (B)

27. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (E)

28. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (D)

29. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
Ans : (E)

30. Which of the following should be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 31–40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

31. Ankur came home from work (A) / late, tired and irritated, to (B) / find his five year old son (C) / waited for him at the door. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

32. For many months (A) / Ram has been admiring (B) / the beautiful sports car displayed (C) / in a dealer’s showroom. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

33. Raghu’s father told him (A) / how proudy he was to (B) / have such a a fine son and (C) / how much he loved him. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

34. Before he could make arrangements, (A) / he received a telegram (B) / tell him his (C) / mother had passed away. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

35. His mother looked at him (A) / standing there, and the boy (B) / could see the memories (C) / flashing through her mind. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

36. You can imagine how (A) / annoyed I was (B) / when I learnt that (C) / the match has been postponed. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

37. What you (A) /said is (B) / impertinenting to (C) / the occasion. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

38. When he hears that news, (A) / he was almost (B) / in tears and (C) / could not utter a word. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

39. Since she has (A) / been hospitalized, (B) / we must wait till (C) / she is recovering. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

40. Yogesh knew the (A) / value of obedient too well (B) / not to anticipate some (C) / censure of his act. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 41–50) In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits in the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Recently I visited Moscow, a Russian city (…41…) many war memorials. There is a huge park in Russia (…42…) as Peace Park. In the middle of the park (…43…) a pillar on which the different battles fought by the Russians have been mentioned alongwith the names and the places. As I was standing under a tree my eyes (…44…) on a young couple who had just been married. I started wondering (…45…) they had come to this monument on their wedding day. They walked up to the monument. (…46…) down a bouquet bowed their heads in silence and walked away. I was (…47…) to know what was going on, so I asked the tourist guide. “Oh, it is a (…48…) in Russia.” he said “Every couple must visit an important national monument nearby on their wedding day. It is a mark of gratitude. Our forefather have (…49…) so much for the country. The newly married couple needs to (…50…) they are free and living in a peaceful country because of their ancestors’ sacrifices. They must ask for their blessings.”

41. (A) with
(B) erected
(C) dedicated
(D) has
(E) built
Ans : (A)

42. (A) identified
(B) mentioned
(C) known
(D) call
(E) title
Ans : (C)

43. (A) placed
(B) located
(C) consturcted
(D) seen
(E) stands
Ans : (E)

44. (A) noticed
(B) go
(C) recognise
(D) fell
(E) drew
Ans : (D)

45. (A) about
(B) why
(C) what
(D) if
(E) where
Ans : (B)

46. (A) dropped
(B) persented
(C) laid
(D) arranged
(E) kept
Ans : (C)

47. (A) curious
(B) puzzled
(C) hasty
(D) disappointed
(E) surprised
Ans : (A)

48. (A) usual
(B) normal
(C) custom
(D) rituals
(E) practise
Ans : (C)

49. (A) gave
(B) surrender
(C) honoured
(D) sacrificed
(E) abandoned
Ans : (D)

50. (A) wish
(B) remember
(C) achieve
(D) remind
(E) dream
Ans : (B)