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Table of Contents, Reading Comprehension................................................................................................... 4, Passage 1 ......................................................................................................................... 4, Answer the following questions briefly: ...................................................................... 4, Find words from the passage that mean the same as ............................................. 4, Answers......................................................................................................................... 4, Passage 2 ......................................................................................................................... 5, Answer the following questions briefly: ...................................................................... 5, Find words from the above passage which mean the opposite to: ....................... 5, Answers......................................................................................................................... 5, Passage 3 ......................................................................................................................... 6, Questions ...................................................................................................................... 6, Answers......................................................................................................................... 7, Passage 4 ......................................................................................................................... 7, Questions ...................................................................................................................... 7, Answers......................................................................................................................... 8, Poem - 1 ........................................................................................................................... 8, Questions ...................................................................................................................... 9, Answers......................................................................................................................... 9, Poem - 2 ........................................................................................................................... 9, Questions .................................................................................................................... 10, Answer ........................................................................................................................ 10, Poem – 3 ........................................................................................................................ 11, Questions .................................................................................................................... 11, Answers....................................................................................................................... 11, Literary Devices in Poetry ................................................................................................. 12, Articles (a, an, the) ........................................................................................................... 12, The Definite Article (the) ............................................................................................... 12, The Indefinite Article (a, an) ......................................................................................... 12, Following are the three specific rules which explain the use of definite and, indefinite articles. ....................................................................................................... 13, Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: .................................................................. 13, Rule #2 - Specific identity is known:...................................................................... 13, Rule #3 - All things or things in general: ................................................................ 13, Worksheet ...................................................................................................................... 13, Fill in the Blanks with appropriate Articles ‘a’ or ‘an’ or ‘the’ ................................ 13

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Answers....................................................................................................................... 14, Relative Pronouns (who, which, that, whose, where, when) ........................................ 14, Worksheet ...................................................................................................................... 15, Fill in the Blanks with appropriate relative pronouns ‘who’, ‘which’, ‘that’,, ‘whose’, ‘whom’, ‘where’ or ‘when’. ...................................................................... 15, Answers....................................................................................................................... 15, Conditional Sentences or If Clauses ............................................................................... 16, Type I conditional .......................................................................................................... 16, Type II conditional ......................................................................................................... 16, Type III Conditional........................................................................................................ 17, Worksheet ...................................................................................................................... 17, Answers .......................................................................................................................... 19, Vocabulary ....................................................................................................................... 19, Common Idioms, Phrases and Proverbs...................................................................... 19, Worksheet................................................................................................................... 21, Answers....................................................................................................................... 21, Common Collocations ................................................................................................. 22, Worksheet................................................................................................................... 22, Answers....................................................................................................................... 22, Collective Nouns (Group Words) ................................................................................. 23, Worksheet................................................................................................................... 23, Answers....................................................................................................................... 24, Phrasal Verbs ................................................................................................................. 24, Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings. ........................................................ 24, Answer ........................................................................................................................ 25, Conjunctions ..................................................................................................................... 25, Some of the common conjunctions and how to use them ...................................... 25, Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions ...................................................... 26, Answers....................................................................................................................... 27, Prepositions ....................................................................................................................... 28, Answers....................................................................................................................... 29, Wish .................................................................................................................................... 30, Wish + Past Perfect (S+had+v3) ................................................................................... 30, Wish + Past simple (S+v2) .............................................................................................. 30, Worksheet ...................................................................................................................... 30, Answers....................................................................................................................... 31

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Model Question Papers .................................................................................................... 32, Model Question Paper – I ............................................................................................. 32, Answers....................................................................................................................... 35, Model Question Paper II ............................................................................................... 35, Answers....................................................................................................................... 37, Previous Question Papers ................................................................................................. 38, USS Exam Feb 2018........................................................................................................ 38, Answers....................................................................................................................... 41, USS Feb 2019 .................................................................................................................. 41, Answers....................................................................................................................... 44, USS Feb 2020 .................................................................................................................. 45, Answers....................................................................................................................... 47

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Reading Comprehension, Passage 1, We must do all we can to stop conflicts and civil war. Most conflicts happen in poor, countries, especially which are badly governed or where power and wealth are not, distributed fairly between different tribal or religious groups. So the best way to check, fighting is to make a political arrangement in which all groups have their, representatives. The need is to ensure human rights and economic development of, all., The next fundamental freedom is one that is not mentioned in the UN charter. In 1945,, the leaders could not imagine that such a situation would arise. That is the freedom, of future generations to live on this planet., Even now many of us have not understood its importance. We are using up the limited, resources for our present use. We are overusing and even wasting them. We are, in, fact, robbing our children of their right to live., We must preserve our forests, fisheries and wildlife. All of these are collapsing because, of our own habit of consuming or destroying them., , Answer the following questions briefly:, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., , Why do most conflicts happen in poor countries?, What is the best way to check conflicts?, What is meant by ‘the freedom of future generations to live’?, How are we robbing our children of their basic right?, What must we preserve for our children?, , Find words from the passage that mean the same as, 6. fighting, 7. keep safely, 8. coming to end, , Answers, 1. Most conflicts happen in poor countries because they are generally badly, governed., 2. The best way to check conflicts is to make a political arrangement in which all, groups have their representatives., 3. It means- the right of the coming generation to live., 4. We are using up the limited resources for our present use. Thus, we are doing, injustice to the future generations., 5. We must save our forest and fisheries for use by our great grandchildren., 6. conflict, 7. preserve, 8. collapsing

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Passage 2, The cinema is the cheapest source of entertainment today. Millions of people see, movies and enjoy them. It is a good pastime in all the places – big or small., The cinema industry has made rapid progress after independence. In the beginning,, there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the colours in, every movie., Big posters are seen on the walls of cities and towns for advertisements. They also, announce the coming movies in the city. There is always a rush before the booking, windows. So the tickets are often sold in the black market or at a premium., On the one hand, the cinema is a source of entertainment. On the other, it is also a, source of knowledge and information. Films satisfy all the sections of people and their, different tastes., There are religious movies and historical movies. They recreate the past, the old culture, and lifestyle. Social films spread awareness about the social evils of dowry, casteism, and communal feelings. Some films expose the corruption in high places among the, policemen and the citizens., , Answer the following questions briefly:, 1. Why is cinema so much popular?, 2. How can you say that the cinema industry has made rapid progress after, independence?, 3. Why are tickets often sold in the black market?, 4. Mention two advantages of cinema., 5. What is the main purpose of making social films?, , Find words from the above passage which mean the opposite to:, 6., 7., 8., 9., , costliest, slow, present, hide., , Answers, 1. Cinema is so much popular because it is the cheapest means of recreation. It is a, good posture., 2. Earlier there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the, colours in the movies. One can see big posters on the wall of cities and towns., 3. Tickets are often sold in the black market because there is always a huge rush, before the booking windows., 4. Cinema is a source of entertainment., It is also a source of knowledge and information., 5. The main purpose of making social films is to spread awareness about social evils, of dowry, casteism and communal feelings, 6. cheapest, 7. rapid

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8. past, 9. expose, , Passage 3, Although not the longest river in America, the Rio Grande is one of the most important., But, unlike other significant rivers, it is not used for shipping. In fact, oceangoing ships, cannot navigate the waters. No, what makes the Rio Grande so important is its, location. Since 1846, it has been the official border of Texas and Mexico., The Rio Grande is either the fourth or fifth-longest river system in North America. It all, depends on how it is measured. Because the river twists so much, it occasionally, changes course. And these course shifts can cause it to be longer or shorter. At its last, official measure, the Rio Grande clocked in at 1,896 miles. The river starts in Colorado, and extends downward to the Gulf of Mexico., Downward is the best way of describing it too. Not only does the river extend south,, but it also starts in the mountains and gets lower and lower in elevation as it extends, to the Gulf., Its name is Spanish for the “Big River,” but the Rio Grande is actually known as Rio, Bravo in Mexico. “Bravo” translates as “furious,” so the name makes sense. Because, of its twists and turns, it certainly does seem to be angrier than most rivers!, , Questions, 1. According to the passage, why is the Rio Grande so important?, a., b., c., d., , It is a source of drinking water for most of the United States., It is the border of Texas and Mexico., It is the longest river system in the United States., It is known by two different names., , 2. In paragraph 3, the author most likely writes that “downward is the best way of, describing it too” to, a., b., c., d., , prove that the Rio Grande’s water levels have gone down recently, argue that the Rio Grande has changed shape over the years, highlight the fact that the Rio Grande flows south and from high elevations, explain why the Rio Grande is known as the Rio Bravo down in Mexico, , 3. Based on its use in paragraph 4, the word furious most nearly means, a., b., c., d., , angry, large, twisted, dry, , 4. According to the passage, where does the Rio Grande river starts and ends?, a. Texas and the Gulf of Mexico

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b. New Mexico and Colorado, c. Texas and Mexico, d. Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico, , Answers, 1. B – It is the border of Texas and Mexico., 2. C – highlight the fact that the Rio De Grande flows from south and from high, elevations., 3. A – angry, 4. D – Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico, , Passage 4, Mr. Duquette is an elderly French-Canadian man who loves to be prepared at all, times. For the past two years, he has been walking around the world, pulling a coffin, behind him. This aluminium coffin was slightly bigger than a typical Chinese coffin. It, has three wheels fitted with and rolls easily., Mr. Duquette tied it to his body and travels everywhere along with it. He calls it as the, 'Festive Coffin' and it is practically his home. There is a heater, a small refrigerator and, even a small kitchen inside the coffin! The Festive Coffin doubles up as his bed during, night. Most of the people is doubtful that he is mad but he is only doing this because, he loves travelling., "I expect this to be my last trip because I am so old now. I'm taking my coffin along in, case I die”, he explains. Mr. Duquette parks the 'Festive Coffin' in cemeteries at night, because he likes the peace and quiet there. Once, in America, some robbers came, to rob the graves. And they saw a strange coffin and wanted to take a closer look at, it. Just then, Mr. Duquette opened the lid and came out. He must have scared the, robbers out of their wits!, , Questions, 1. What has Mr. Duquette been doing the last two years? He has been, ________________., a. designing coffins, b. turning coffins into homes, c. living in America, d. travelling around the world, 2. Which of the following is a true statement about his coffin?, a. The inside of it is empty., b. It can move around by itself., c. It has to be pulled around., d. It is smaller than a Chinese coffin., 3. In what way can we say that Mr. Duquette's coffin is useful?, a. He can use it to attract attention from passers-by., b. It contains the basic necessities and serves as a bed., c. It transports Mr. Duquette to the places he wants to visit., d. (d) He can entertain children by letting them play in the coffin.

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4. Mr. Duquette's behaviour can be described as ________________., a. evil, b. heroic, c. different, d. mundane, , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., , D - travelling around the world, C - It has to be pulled around., B - It contains the basic necessities and serves as a bed., C - different, , Poem - 1, The World, Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,, With the wonderful water round you curled,, And the wonderful grass upon your breast—, World, you are beautifully dressed., The wonderful air is over me,, And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree,, It walks on the water, and whirls the mills,, And talks to itself on the tops of the hills., You friendly Earth, how far do you go,, With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow,, With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles,, And people upon you for thousands of miles?, Ah! you are so great, and I am so small,, I tremble to think of you, World, at all;, And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,, A whisper inside me seemed to say,, ‘You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot:

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You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!’, —W.B. Rands, , Questions, 1. In the poem above ‘beautifully drest’ refers to, a. having gaudy dress, b. decorated with nature’s beauty, c. wearing costly dresses, d. wearing cheap but beautiful dresses., 2. The poet calls the world ‘beautifully drest’ because, a. it looks beautiful, b. it has wonderful grass curled around it, c. it is covered with fine clothes, d. it is covered with green leaves., 3. The wind in the poem talks to, a. passers-by, b. trees, c. clouds, d. itself., 4. The poet calls the earth, a. unfriendly, b. friendly, c. proud, d. kind., 5. The phrase such a dot means, a. so small, b. so fat, c. so big, d. so kind., , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., , B - decorated with nature’s beauty, B - it has wonderful grass curled around it, D - itself., B - friendly, A – so small, , Poem - 2, Fame is a food that dead men eat,, I have no stomach for such meat., In little light and narrow room,, They eat in the silent tomb.

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With no kind voice of comrade near, To bid the feaster be of cheer., But friendship is a noble thing,, Of friendship it is good to sing., For truly when a man shall end,, He lives in memory of his friend,, Who doth his better part recall,, And of his fault make funeral., —Henry Austin Dobson, , Questions, 1. By the expression ‘Fame is a food that dead men eat’ we mean, a. fame is enjoyed only after death, b. fame is enjoyed during life-time, c. fame is something like a food, d. fame dies with one’s death., 2. Friendship is a noble thing because, a. a man cannot live without friends, b. real friends are very helpful, c. a man always remembers the good qualities of his friend after his death, d. it enhances dignity of mankind., 3. Friendship is better than fame because in friendship, a. when a man dies, he lives in the memory of his friend, b. a man always regards his friend, c. enmity never comes, d. a man is always happy in the company of his friend., 4. In the last line of the above poem the poet wants to convey that, a. one should believe in friendship, b. the faults of a man are highlighted by his friend after his death, c. the faults of a man are forgotten by his friend after his death, d. one should not run after fame and friendship., 5. The word recall means, a. Forget, b. come close, c. help, d. remember, , Answer, 1. a – fame is enjoyed only after death, 2. c – a man always remembers the good qualities of his friend after his death, 3. a – when a man dies, he lives in the memory of his friend

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4. c – the faults of a man are forgotten by his friend after his death, 5. d – remember, , Poem – 3, If you’ve tried and have not won,, Never stop for crying;, All that’s good and great is done, Just by patient trying., , Though young birds, in flying, fall,, Still their wings grow stronger,, And the next time they can keep, Up a little longer., , Though the sturdy oak has known, Many a wind that bowed her,, She has risen again and grown, Loftier and prouder., , If by easy work you’re beat,, Who the more will prize you?, Gaining victory from defeat,, That’s the test that tries you., , Questions, 1., 2., 3., 4., , What is done by patient trying?, What does the sturdy oak do after being bowed?, What is the test that tries you?, Write two pairs of rhyming words from the poem., , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., , All that’s great and good is done by patient trying, The sturdy oak rose and grown loftier and prouder., Gaining victory from defeat is the test that tries you., Won, done|crying, trying|stronger, longer | known, grown | beat, defeat|

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Literary Devices in Poetry, 1. SIMILE - Comparison between two things using like or as, E.g.: You are brave as a lion. They were fighting like dogs and cats., 2. METAPHOR – a comparison between two unlike things without the use of ‘like’ or, ‘as’., E.g.: Life is a highway., 3. ALLITERATION - the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more, consecutive words., E.g.: Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,, big business, bugs bunny, 4. ASSONANCE - the repetition of a vowel sound within a sentence or a line., E.g.: Hear the mellow wedding bells, 5. INTERNAL RHYME - a rhyme that occurs within the lines of a poem., E.g.:, 6. PERSONIFICATION - an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is, spoken of as if it were human., E.g.: The dish ran away with the spoon., 7. IMAGERY - The creation of any sensory effect like visual (sight), auditory (sound),, olfactory (smell), gustatory(taste), tactile(touch), kinesthetics (movement),, organic (emotion)., , Articles (a, an, the), Articles are used before nouns or noun equivalents and are a type of adjective. In, English, there are two types of articles: definite and indefinite., , The Definite Article (the), The definite article is the word the. It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular, thing., For example, the Prime Minister of India. There may be many prime ministers in the, world, but the context is that there is only one specific Prime Minster of one specific, India., , The Indefinite Article (a, an), The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity, is not known., For example, I would like to watch a film. We haven’t specified which film so it could, be any film., The use of 'a' and 'an' depends on whether the following word begins with a vowel, or consonant sound.

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a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound), an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound), , Following are the three specific rules which explain the use of definite, and indefinite articles., Rule #1 - Specific identity not known:, When you don’t know the specific identity use the indefinite article a or an only., •, , •, , •, , Use the article a or an, to indicate any non-specified member of a group or, category., I think an animal is in the house., That man is an idiot., We are looking for a house., Use the article a or an, to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than, one)., I own a cat and two dogs., Use the article ‘a’ before a consonant sound, and use ‘an’ before a vowel, sound., a boy, an apple, o Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:, an unhappy boy, a red apple, , Rule #2 - Specific identity is known:, When the specific identity is known, use the definite article ‘the’ with any noun, (whether singular or plural, count or noncount). Look at the following situations:, •, , Use the article ‘the’ when a particular noun has already been mentioned, previously., I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious., , •, , Use the article ‘the’ when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun, clarifies or restricts its identity., The boy sitting next to me raised his hand., Thank you for the advice you gave me., , Rule #3 - All things or things in general:, Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns used to mean all or in, general., Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.), He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.), , Worksheet, Fill in the Blanks with appropriate Articles ‘a’ or ‘an’ or ‘the’, 1. I borrowed ____ pencil from your pile of pencils and pens.

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2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., , Please give me ____ cake that is on the counter., Joya’s father is ____ principal of our college., ____ earth moves round ____ sun., ____ ink in my pen is red., Our neighbours have ____ cat and ____ dog., Sunil’s father is ____ advocate in ____ high court., I brought along _______ loaf of bread and _______ tin of tuna for my lunch. I also, had _______ apple, ______ orange and _______ tomato. But I forgot to bring along, _______ knife and _______ can-opener. So, I ate only _______ apple, _______ orange, and _______ tomato for _______lunch., 9. ____ man and ____ woman were walking in Oxford Street. ____ woman saw ____, dress that she liked in ____ shop. She asked ____ man if he could buy ____ dress for, her. He said: "Do you think the shop will accept a cheque? I don't have a credit, card.", 10. I am from Winchester. Winchester is _____ city in England. I live in _____ town called, Taunton which is near _____ river. I live in _____ house on _____ quiet street in _____, countryside. _____ street is called Hudson Street and _____ house is old – more than, 100 years old!, , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., , I borrowed a pencil from your pile of pencils and pens., Please give me the cake that is on the counter., Joya’s father is the principal of our college., The earth moves around the sun., The ink in my pen is red., Our neighbours have a cat and a dog., Sunil’s father is an advocate in the high court., I brought along a loaf of bread and a tin of tuna for my lunch. I also had an apple,, an orange and a tomato. But I forgot to bring along a knife and a can-opener. So,, I ate only the apple, the orange and the tomato for lunch., 9. A man and a woman were walking in Oxford Street. The woman saw a dress that, she liked in a shop. She asked the man if he could buy the dress for her. He said:, "Do you think the shop will accept a cheque? I don't have a credit card.", 10. I am from Winchester. Winchester is a city in England. I live in a town called, Taunton which is near a/the river. I live in a house on a quiet street in the, countryside. The street is called Hudson Street and the house is old – more than, 100 years old!, , Relative Pronouns (who, which,, that, whose, where, when), We use relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses. Relative clauses tell us more, about people and things:, We use:

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− who and whom for people, She's the woman who cuts my hair., − which for things, There was a one-year guarantee which came with the TV., − that for people or things., The laptop that I bought last week has started making a strange noise!, − Whose refers to the person that something belongs to., He's a musician whose albums have sold millions., − Where for place, That's the stadium where Real Madrid play., − When for time, Summer is the season when I'm happiest., , Worksheet, Fill in the Blanks with appropriate relative pronouns ‘who’, ‘which’, ‘that’,, ‘whose’, ‘whom’, ‘where’ or ‘when’., 1. An aeroplane is a machine _____ flies., 2. The people _____ work in the house are friendly., 3. That's the hospital ___ I was born., 4. A salesman is a person _____ woks in a shop., 5. My wife, _____ lives in Delhi, has just written me a letter., 6. The week ___ they were in Edinburgh was lovely and sunny., 7. I want a mobile phone _____ takes good photos., 8. The man _____ lost his phone was upset., 9. The passengers ___ flights were cancelled got a refund., 10. Nita lost her ring _____ was made of gold., 11. I have found the keys _____ you had lost., 12. The park ___ I go running is really peaceful., 13. I met Shyam _____ is the chairman of the committee., 14. That's the man ___ daughter is a professional footballer., 15. The day ___ they met was her birthday., , Answers, 1. An aeroplane is a machine which/that flies., 2. The people who work in the house are friendly., 3. That's the hospital where I was born., 4. A salesman is a person who works in a shop., 5. My wife, who lives in Delhi, has just written me a letter., 6. The week when they were in Edinburgh was lovely and sunny., 7. I want a mobile phone which/that takes good photos., 8. The man who lost his phone was upset., 9. The passengers whose flights were cancelled got a refund., 10. Nita lost her ring which/that was made of gold., 11. I have found the keys which/that you had lost.

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12. The park where I go running is really peaceful., 13. I met Shyam who is the chairman of the committee., 14. That's the man whose daughter is a professional footballer., 15. The day when they met was her birthday., , Conditional Sentences or If, Clauses, There are three types of conditionals in English:, , − If clauses Type 1 (one): Situations that can really happen at present or, in future (real)., − If clauses Type 2 (two): Situations will probably never happen at, present or in future (unreal/hypothetical condition)., − If clauses Type 3 (three): Situations that did not happen in the past. (This, type of sentence is used when making excuses, showing regret,, blaming, or giving an explanation.), , Type I conditional, If clause(condition), , Main clause(result), , If + simple present, , Simple future, , (S+v1), , (will+v1), , If this thing happens, , that thing will happen., , If you don’t hurry, , you will miss the train., , If it rains today, , you will get wet., , Type II conditional, If clause(condition), , Main clause(result), , If + simple past, , Present conditional, , (S+v2), , (would/should+v1)

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If this thing happened, , that thing would happen., , If you went to bed earlier, , you would not be so tired., , If it rained, , you would get wet., , If I didn’t do it, , nobody would do it., , Type III Conditional, If clause(condition), , Main clause(result), , If + past perfect, , perfect conditional, , (S + had + v3), , (would have + v3), , If you had studied harder, , You would have passed the exam., , If I had been there, , I would have helped., , If it had rained., , you would have gotten wet., , If I had left early, , I would have caught the train., , Worksheet, 1. If we ____ to the café, we will drink tea., a. Go, b. Went, c. Will go, d. Would go, 2. If I had a lot of money, I ___________ some to charity., a. Give, b. Gave, c. Will give, d. Would give, 3. If I bought flowers, I ___________ yellow ones., a. Choose, b. Chose, c. Will choose

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d. Would choose, 4. If the police _____________ earlier, they would have arrested the burglar., a. Come, b. Came, c. Had come, d. Had came, 5. If it ______, I will stay at home., a. Rain, b. Rains, c. rained, d. will rain, 6. If we go to London, we _______ the tower., a. See, b. Saw, c. Will see, d. Would see, 7. If the boys had taken the bus to school, they ________ on time., a. Will arrive, b. Would arrive, c. Would have arrive, d. Would have arrived, 8. I _________ you if you asked me., a. Tell, b. Told, c. Will tell, d. Would tell, 9. If we _______ too much, we would get fat., a. Eat, b. Ate, c. Will eat, d. Would eat, 10. He _________ his hands if you give him some soap., a. Wash, b. Washes, c. Will wash, d. Would wash, 11. If his brother ________________ his car so fast, he wouldn’t have crashed into the, other car., a. Haven’t driven, b. Hasn’t drove, c. Hadn’t driven, d. Have driven, 12. If I have some money, I _________ a car., a. Buy, b. Bought, c. Will buy, d. Would buy

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13. If Santhosh ________ me, I would lend him my tools., a. Ask, b. Asked, c. Asks, d. Will ask, 14. If he had spoken more slowly, Peggy __________ him, a. Would have understood, b. Would has understood, c. Would had understood, d. Would had understand, 15. If I had more time, I __________ it myself., a. did, b. Will do, c. Would do, d. Would have done, , Answers, 1. If we go to the café, we will drink tea., 2. If I had a lot of money, I would give some to charity., 3. If I bought flowers, I would choose yellow ones., 4. If the police had come earlier, they would have arrested the burglar., 5. If it rains, I will stay at home., 6. If we go to London, we will see the tower., 7. If the boys had taken the bus to school, they would have arrived on time., 8. I would tell you if you asked me., 9. If we ate too much, we would get fat., 10. He will wash his hands if you give him some soap., 11. If his brother hadn’t driven his car, he wouldn’t have crashed into the other car., 12. If I have some money, I will buy a car., 13. If Santhosh asked me, I would lend him my tools., 14. If he had spoken more slowly, Peggy would have understood him., 15. If I had more time, I would do it myself, , Vocabulary, Common Idioms, Phrases and Proverbs, 1. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. - Things we already have, are more valuable, than what we hope to get., 2. A blessing in disguise - something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in, something good happening later, 3. A feather in one’s cap - an achievement of which one can be proud of, 4. A hot potato - Speak of an issue which many people are talking about and which, is usually disputed

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5. A stitch in time saves nine. - It’s better to deal with problems immediately rather, than wait by when they worsen and become much bigger., 6. Action speaks louder than words – People’s intention can be judged better by, what they do than what they say., 7. Add insult to injury - To worsen an unfavourable situation, 8. All that glitters is not gold. - Things that look good outwardly may not be as valuable, or good., 9. All’s well that ends well. - As long as the outcome is good, problems on the way, don’t matter., 10. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. - Eating an apple, a day will keep you, healthy., 11. Appearances can be deceptive. - Outward appearance may not be what you, believe them to be., 12. As you sow, so you shall reap. - Your actions – good or bad – determine what you, get., 13. Barking dogs seldom bite. - People who appear threatening rarely do harm., 14. Beat around the bush - to avoid talking about what is important, 15. Better late than never. - It is better to get something (you desire) late than get it, never., 16. Cry over spilt milk - When you complain about a loss in the past, 17. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch - you should not make plans that, depend on something good happening before you know that it has actually, happened, 18. Down to earth - practical, reasonable, and friendly, 19. Early bird - a person who gets up or arrives early, 20. Every dog has his day. - Even the unluckiest or the most unfortunate will taste, success at some point., 21. Familiarity breeds contempt. - If you know a situation, person, or thing well, you, stop respecting them and become careless., 22. Feel blue - to feel sad or depressed, 23. Fortune favours the brave. - If you carry out your plans boldly, the luck is more likely, to favour you., 24. God helps those who help themselves. - God doesn’t help those who don’t try., You’ve to make effort if you want to succeed., 25. Good things come to those who wait. - Patience is often rewarded., 26. Hit the nail on the head - doing or saying something that is precisely right, 27. It’s better to be safe than sorry. - It’s better to be cautious than regret later., 28. Keep one’s word - do as one promise, 29. Learn to walk before you run. - Learn basic skills first before venturing into complex, things., 30. Let the cat out of the bag - to allow a secret to be known, usually without intending, to, 31. Pen is mightier than sword. - Thinking and writing have more influence on people, and events than use of force., 32. Pulling someone’s leg - to tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking, with the person, 33. Rome wasn’t built in a day. - Important work takes time to complete.

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34. Slow and steady wins the race. - Slow and consistent work leads to better chance, of success than quick work in spurts., 35. Strike while the iron is hot. - Take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it comes, along., 36. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. - You can only judge the quality of, something after you have tried, used, or experienced it., 37. The pros and cons - the arguments for and against, 38. Too many cooks spoil the broth - said when there are too many people involved, in trying to do the same thing, so that the final result will not be good, 39. Two heads are better than one. - Two persons have a better chance to solve a, problem than one., , Worksheet, 1. You will someday have to _______________ because your parents will not be, around to protect you all the time., a. Strike while the iron is hot, b. learn to walk before you run, c. Cry over spilt milk, d. Hit the nail on the head, 2. Julie always says she’ll donate to the school, and she never does, so I doubt she, will this year., ___________________ after all., a. actions speak louder than words, b. Rome wasn’t built in a day, c. good things come to those who wait, d. a stitch in time saves nine, 3. The kids wanted to do a good science project but ___________________., a. curiosity killed the cat, b. don’t count your chickens before they hatch, c. a stitch in time saves nine, d. too many cooks spoilt the broth, 4. She _______________ and finally told her parents about her plans of getting, married., a. struck while the iron is hot, b. let the cat out of the bag, c. cut corners, d. kept her word, 5. You better start preparing for the test because, _________________________________., a. God helps those who help themselves, b. two heads are better than one, c. every dog has his day, d. a stitch in time saves nine, , Answers, 1. You will someday have to learn to walk before you run because your parents will, not be around to protect you all the time.

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2. Julie always says she’ll donate to the school, and she never does, so I doubt she, will this year., actions speak louder than words after all., 3. The kids wanted to do a good science project but too many cooks spoil the, broth., 4. She let the cat out of the bag and finally told her parents about her plans of, getting married., 5. You better start preparing for the test because God helps those who help, themselves., , Common Collocations, Certain words in English are often used together. Such natural pairing or grouping of, words is known as Collocation., , Worksheet, 1. It is a golden ____________ if you miss it, you will regret it., a. Chance, b. Opportunity, c. Offer, d. Option, 2. I ________ a mistake., a. Did, b. Had, c. Made, d. built, 3. There had been very ______ rain before the accident., a. Strong, b. Large, c. great, d. heavy, 4. It would be wrong to take a _______ decision on this important matter., a. Strong, b. hasty, c. Quick, d. Hurried, 5. I felt _______ ashamed for my father’s impoliteness., a. strongly, b. terribly, c. awfully, d. deeply, , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., , It is a golden chance, if you miss it, you will regret it., I made a mistake., There had been very heavy rain before the accident., It would be wrong to take a hasty decision on this important matter., I felt deeply ashamed for my father’s impoliteness.

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Collective Nouns (Group Words), Herd – A group of herbivore animals, Pack – A group of canine animals such as wolves or dogs; also used to describe, playing cards and packages containing multiple objects, Flock – A group of birds; also used to discuss small hooved animals such as sheep or, goats, Swarm – A group of insects, Shoal – A group of fish, Group – A very general term used to describe people, places, things, and animals, Crowd – Usually used to describe a group of people, Gang – Usually used to describe a group of criminals; also used to describe a group, of workers, particularly sailors or dock workers, Mob – Normally used to describe an angry or unruly group of people; also used to, describe a group of kangaroos, Staff – A group of people who work in the same place, Crew – Usually used to denote a group of workers; also used to describe aircraft and, ships personnel, Choir – A large, organized group of singers, Orchestra – A large, organized group of instrumentalists, led by a conductor, Panel – A group of experts, Board – A group of people, usually professionals, who take on an advisory role, Troupe – A group of actors or acrobats; also used to describe a group of monkeys, Bunch – Usually a group of smallish objects such as grapes, flowers, keys, or bananas, Pile – An untidy collection of items such as rubbish, Set – A tidy group of matched objects such as dishes; also used to describe rules or a, social group of people, Stack – A group of items neatly laid one on top of another; i.e., a stack of books, , Worksheet, 1. The ____________ of singers sang melodiously., a. herd, b. group, c. choir, d. swarm

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2. A _________ of grapes was hanging from the vine., a. Bunch, b. Flock, c. Troop, d. Bundle, 3. A _________ of stairs leads to the terrace., a. Lots, b. Flight, c. Group, d. Bunch, 4. The _____________ of thieves has been arrested by the police., a. crowd, b. bunch, c. troop, d. Gang, 5. A ________________ of musicians was hired to perform at the party., a. Band, b. Gang, c. Choir, d. Team, 6. It was empty yesterday, but one woman arrived with a _________ of flowers., a. pack, b. pile, c. stack, d. Bouquet, , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., , C – choir, A – bunch, B – flight, D – gang, A – band, D – bouquet, , Phrasal Verbs, Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings., 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9., , Phrasal Verbs, Call off, Call out, Come across, Come out, Come up with, Get across, Get along, Get away, Get over, , 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9., , Meanings, To establish, To begin a journey, To become known, To produce a plan or idea, To take care, To postpone, To tolerate, To be careful, To cancel a plan or event

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10. Get up to, 11. Look after, 12. Look for, 13. Look on, 14. Look out, 15. Put across, 16. Put off, 17. Put on, 18. Put up with, 19. Set out, 20. Set up, , 10. To recover (from something or someone), 11. To have a good, friendly relationship with someone, 12. To communicate an idea successfully, 13. To leave or escape from someone or something, 14. To do something, 15. To give opinion clearly or explain an idea well, 16. To get dressed, 17. To shout something, 18. To meet or find someone or something by chance, 19. to investigate or examine, 20. to respect or admire someone, , Answer, Phrasal Verbs, 1. Call off, 2. Call out, 3. Come across, 4. Come out, 5. Come up with, 6. Get across, 7. Get along, 8. Get away, 9. Get over, 10. Get up to, 11. Look after, 12. Look for, 13. Look out, 14. Look up to, 15. Put across, 16. Put off, 17. Put on, 18. Put up with, 19. Set out, 20. Set up, , Meanings, 1. To cancel a plan or event, 2. To shout something, 3. To meet or find someone or something by chance, 4. To become known, 5. To produce a plan or idea, 6. To communicate an idea successfully, 7. To have a good, friendly relationship with someone, 8. To leave or escape from someone or something, 9. To recover (from something or someone), 10. To do something, 11. To take care, 12. to investigate or examine, 13. to be careful, 14. to respect or admire someone, 15. To give opinion clearly or explain an idea well, 16. To postpone, 17. To get dressed, 18. To tolerate, 19. To begin a journey, 20. To establish, , Conjunctions, Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together., , Some of the common conjunctions and how to use them, 1. And, “And” joins two ideas, things or sentences together., • “I have two cats and one dog.”, 2. But, This conjunction connects two ideas, similar to how you might use the word, “and.” However, while “and” connects two alike ideas/things, “but” connects, contrasting ideas/things., • “I want to go to the movies, but Sarah wants to go out to eat.”

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3. Or, “Or” presents an alternative to an option., • “We can go to the movies or we can go out to eat.”, 4. So, This conjunction gives a reason for something., • “John is struggling in his math class, so he hired a tutor.”, 5. Until, This conjunction means “up to the point that something happens.”, • “I am on vacation until January 5th.”, 6. Whether, Use “whether” when expressing a choice between two options. In many cases,, “whether” is used along with the conjunction “or.”, • “I can’t decide whether I want biriyani or mazbi.”, 7. After, Use “after” to talk about what happens in the period of time following something, else., • “Let's go for a walk after breakfast.”, 8. Before, “Before” is the opposite of “after.” Use “before” to talk about what happens in, the period of time preceding something else., • “Let's go for a walk before breakfast.”, 9. Although, “Although” means “even though,” or in spite of something., • “Although she is a great creative writer, she has trouble writing academic, papers.”, 10. Because, “Because” explains the reason for something., • “Patients were discharged from hospital because the beds were needed by, other people.”, 11. Since, The primary use of “since” is to talk about the amount of time that something has, been happening. You can also use “since” as a synonym for “because.”, • “He has been afraid of driving since the car crash last year.”, 12. When, This conjunction refers to the time that something was happening., • “I loved ice cream when I was a kid.”, 13. How, “How” describes the way that something is or happens., • “Tell me the story of how you and mom fell in love.”, , Fill in the blanks with appropriate conjunctions, 1. They said that the movie was fantastic, _______ I watched it., a. Since, b. So, c. After, d. Before, 2. Everybody likes him because he is nice _______ helpful.

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a. And, b. Or, c. But, d. So, 3. Is it Thursday _____ Friday today?, a. And, b. Or, c. But, d. So, 4. I like sugar in my tea, _____ I don't like milk in it., a. And, b. Or, c. But, d. So, 5. I like him _________ he is very sincere., a. Because, b. And, c. Or, d. So, 6. Let's go home ___ it gets dark., a. After, b. Before, c. Since, d. until, 7. She has known Jack ___ he was a child., a. When, b. As, c. After, d. Since, 8. Give this letter to Anne ___ you see her., a. Before, b. Since, c. Until, d. When, 9. Tom studied hard, ________ he failed the test., a. But, b. And, c. So, d. Because, 10. ______ he is busy, he spends time with his family., a. Since, b. But, c. Although, d. Because, , Answers, 1. They said that the movie was fantastic, so I watched it.

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2. Everybody likes him because he is nice and helpful., 3. Is it Thursday or Friday today?, 4. I like sugar in my tea, but I don't like milk in it., 5. I like him because he is very sincere., 6. Let's go home before it gets dark., 7. She has known Jack since he was a child., 8. Give this letter to Anne when you see her., 9. Tom studied hard, but he failed the test., 10. Although he is busy, he spends time with his family., , Prepositions, 1. It is dangerous to enter _______ the enemy’s camp., a. Through, b. On, c. In, d. Into, 2. My relations ________ Suganya are good., a. Against, b. With, c. On, d. To, 3. Siva has no control ____ his temper., a. At, b. In, c. Over, d. After, 4. We travelled ____ a boat to reach Sri Lanka., a. About, b. For, c. On, d. By, 5. There was no agreement ___ the great powers ___ a treaty to ban nuclear, weapons., a. With, about, b. In, for, c. Among, on, d. Between, about, 6. I shall meet you ________ 6 o’clock., a. By, b. At, c. In, d. During, 7. Life is not a bed ________ roses., a. With, b. For

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c. Off, d. Of, 8. Some members of parliament voted __________ the proposal, a. Against, b. To, c. In, d. With, 9. Allan left your keys ______ the table., a. In, b. On, c. To, d. over, 10. The team received the trophy ____ the end of the match., a. In, b. On, c. by, d. at, 11. She was grateful ____ him for the help he gave her., a. Of, b. For, c. to, d. With, 12. There isn't any access _______ the village because ______ the road blocks., a. For, of, b. To, of, c. With, in, d. To, at, 13. They worked hard but didn't come up ______ a solution ______ the problem., a. With, for, b. Of, at, c. On, to, d. Off, by, 14. When we looked ______ of the window ______ Christmas Day we saw that the, ground was covered ______ snow., a. At, on, over, b. Out, in, of, c. Out, on, with, d. At, in, of, 15. Most parents hope _____ a better life _____ their children., a. For, for, b. Of, for, c. Of. Of, d. Of, to, , Answers, 1. D – into, 2. B – with

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3. C – over, 4. D – by, 5. C – among, on, 6. B – at, 7. D – of, 8. A – against, 9. B – on, 10. D – at, 11. C – to, 12. B – to, of, 13. A – with, for, 14. C – out, on, with, 15. A – for, for, , Wish, We use the verb wish to talk about things that we want but which are not possible:, , Wish + Past Perfect (S+had+v3), This wish grammar structure expresses regret. This means we want to be able to, change a situation in the past., Wish sentences:, •, •, •, , They wish they hadn’t lost the photo. It was a really good one. (They lost the, photo.), I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.), He wishes he had studied more for their exam. (They didn’t study more for, their exam.), , Wish + Past simple (S+v2), we use wish + past form verb when we want something now or in the future to be, different, •, , I wish I had more money. (right now, I don’t have money.), , Worksheet, 1. Danny wishes he ________________ work earlier every day., a. Finishes, b. Finished, c. Has finished, d. Had finished, 2. I wish I __________ paid twice a month instead of once a month., a. Get

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b. Gets, c. Got, d. Had gotten, 3. I wish I _________ play guitar., a. Can, b. Could, c. Will, d. Would, 4. I wish I _______ afford to go on holidays., a. Can, b. Could, c. Will, d. Would, 5. She didn’t come to the meeting. She wished __________ to the meeting., a. Comes, b. Came, c. Come, d. Had come, 6. We wish we ______ this match today, but our goalkeeper is injured., a. Played, b. Can play, c. Could play, d. Had played, 7. She is talking so fast. I can’t stand it. I wish she __________ so fast., a. Talked, b. Didn’t talk, c. Had talked, d. Hadn’t talked, 8. Having a lovely time in Kashmir. I wish you _________ here., a. Are, b. Were, c. Aren’t, d. Had been, 9. Anju wishes she _______ ill today., a. Is, b. Was, c. Wasn’t, d. Hadn’t been, 10. My sister wishes she _________ lots of money to buy all she wants., a. Wins, b. Would win, c. Will win, d. Won, , Answers, 1. B – finished, 2. C – got

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3. B – could, 4. B – could, 5. D – had come, 6. C – could play, 7. B – didn’t talk, 8. B – were, 9. C – wasn’t, 10. D – won, , Model Question Papers, Model Question Paper – I, Questions 1 to 4: Read the following passage and select the correct answer for the, questions after it., A boy laughed and ran down the path. A parrot suddenly screeched, flew low over, his head, a flash of red and green. The bird disappeared amongst the trees. A trickle, of water came from the hillside, and the boy stopped to drink. The water was cold, and sharp, but very refreshing. However, it seemed to have the effect of making him, more thirsty. The sun was striking his side of the hill, and the dusty path became hotter,, the stones scorching the boy’s feet. He was sure he had gone halfway; he had walked, for over an hour. Presently he saw another boy ahead of him, driving a few goats, down the path. How far is the river? He asked. The village boy smiled in a friendly way, and said, ‘oh, not far, just round the next hill and straight down.’ The boy, feeling, hungry, unwrapped his loaf of bread and broke it in halves, offering one portion to the, village boy. They sat on the hillside and ate in silence., 1. This passage is an example for:, a. Autobiography, b. Description, c. Biography, d. Profile, 2. Which is the synonym of the word scorching given in the passage?, a. Hot, b. Very cold, c. Very hot, d. Cold, 3. Identify the expression to describe the flow of water., a. Hisses, b. Roars, c. Chirping, d. Trickle, 4. The boy unwrapped his loaf of bread and broke it into halves, offering one portion, to the village boy. What attitude of the boy is revealed here?, a. He has the good quality of sharing things with others.

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b. He has the quality of loving others., c. He has the quality of inspiring others., d. He is empathetic in nature., 5. Which one is the correct sentence?, a. I could sense the cool breeze., b. I could see the cool breeze., c. I could hear the cool breeze., d. I could touch the cool breeze., 6. If you invite me, I _______________., a. Will come there., b. Would come there., c. Could come there., d. Can come there., 7. Which word is correctly spelt?, a. Freckuently, b. Frequently, c. Frecuently, d. Frekuently, 8. ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ the proverb means that…, a. One good person can get the job done quicker., b. If you eat the right food, you will be healthy., c. Don’t take the chance of losing something you have, in search of, something better., d. You can’t be sure about something until you try it., 9. The path ________ the river dropped steeply ________ the valley., a. For, into, b. To, in, c. Of, into, d. To, into, 10. Choose the suitable one from the following to get the meaning of ‘get across’., a. To communicate clearly, b. To overcome, c. To finish something completely, d. To rise from bed, 11. A person who goes on a long journey., a. Tourist, b. Wanderer, c. Hermit, d. Voyager, 12. A tool is used for digging soil., a. Knife, b. Spade, c. Rake, d. Crowbar, 13. A large group of people who play music together., a. A band, b. Lead singer

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c. Orchestra, d. Composer, Read the poem and answer the questions given below., The sun does arise, And make happy the skies, The merry bells ring, To welcome the spring, The skylark and thrush, The birds of the bush, Sing louder around,, To the bells’ cheerful sound,, While our sports shall be seen, On the echoing green, , Old John with white hair, Does laugh away care,, Sitting under the oak,, Among the old folk., They laugh at our play,, And soon they all say:, Such, such were the joys., When we all girls and boys, In our youth-time were seen, On the echoing green., 14. Old John with white hair, ‘white hair’ means, a. Old age, b. Childhood, c. Adolescence, d. Middle age, 15. Who welcomes the Spring?, a. Owl, b. Skylark and thrush, c. Peacock, d. Hornbill

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Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., , B - Description, C – very hot, B – trickle, D - He has the good quality of sharing things with others., A – I could sense the cool breeze., A – Will come there, B - Frequently, C - Don’t take the chance of losing something you have, in search of something, better., 9. D – to, into, 10. A – to communicate clearly, 11. D - voyager, 12. B - spade, 13. C - Orchestra, 14. A – Old Age, 15. B - Skylark and thrush, , Model Question Paper II, Questions 1 to 5: Read the following passage and select the correct answer for the, questions after it., Marie curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in History. Together with her, husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating Cancer,, and also studied about uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie's, amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom., Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of Physics., At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great, exuberance for learning promoted her to continue with her studies after high school., However, she became disgruntled, when she learned that the University in Warsaw, was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left, Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her, master's degree and doctorate in Physics. Marie was the first woman to be given a, professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in, Chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness, from her long exposure to radium, she never became disillusioned about her work., Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to Science and to reveal, the mysteries of the Physical world., 1. The Curie's'__________ collaboration helped to unlock the secrets of the atom., a. Friendly, b. Competitive, c. Courteous, d. Industrious, 2. Marie had a bright mind and a ______________ personality., a. Strong

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b. Light hearted, c. Humorous, d. Strange, 3. When she learned that she could not attend the university in Warsaw, she, felt________., a. Hopeless, b. Annoyed, c. Worried, d. None of the above, 4. Even though she became fatally ill from working with radium, Marie Curie was, never__________., a. Troubled, b. Sorrowful, c. Disappointed, d. Disturbed, 5. Which element is widely used in cancer treatment?, a. Uranium, b. Barium, c. Polonium, d. Radium, Choose the appropriate answer to complete the following sentences., 6. Who is going to________ the child while you are away?, a. Look on, b. Look forward, c. Look for, d. Look after, 7. If he had been able to afford it, he __________________ her a diamond ring., a. Have bought, b. Will have bought, c. Would buy, d. Would have bought, 8. ____________ happens, I will support my friend., a. Whoever, b. Whatever, c. Whichever, d. However, 9. We wish we _________ visit China., a. Have, b. Were, c. Had, d. Could, 10. All of the carpets ___ display were made ____ hand., a. On, by, b. In, with, c. For, of

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d. Of, by, Read the following poem and answer the questions., As a white candle, In a holy place,, So is the beauty, Of an aged face, As the spent radiance, Of the winter sun,, So is a woman, With her travail done., Her brood gone from her,, And her thoughts as still, As the Waters, Under a ruined mill, 11. The subject of the poem is_____________., a. Beauty of youth, b. Beauty of middle age, c. Beauty of old age, d. Beauty of a white candle, 12. The word 'radiance' means, a. Beauty, b. Shining brightly, c. Morning, d. Cold, 13. The aged face is compared to, a. Setting sun, b. A white candle in a holy place, c. Rising sun, d. Mid-day, 14. Which is not the synonym of the word 'destination', a. Target, b. Early morning, c. Landing place, d. aim, 15. Choose the correct synonym for the underlined word, The tardy arrival of John delayed the function., a. Easy, b. Fast, c. Late, d. Morning, , Answers, 1. A – friendly

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2. B – light hearted, 3. B – annoyed, 4. C – disappointed, 5. D – radium, 6. D – Look after, 7. D – would have bought, 8. B – whatever, 9. D – could, 10. A – on, by, 11. C – beauty of old age, 12. B – shining brightly, 13. B – A white candle in a holy place, 14. B – Early morning, 15. C –late, , Previous Question Papers, USS Exam Feb 2018, Questions 1 to 4: Read the following passage and select the correct answer for the, questions after it., I used to collect the paper and run around the Rameswaram town and be the, first one to distribute the newspapers in the town. My elder cousin brother was the, agent who went away to Sri Lanka in search of a better livelihood. After distribution, I, used to come home at 8 am. My mother will give me a simple breakfast with a special, quota compared to other children because I was studying and working, simultaneously. After the school gets over in the evening, again I will go around, Rameswaram for collection of dues from customers., I still remember an incident which I would like to share with you. As a young, boy, I was walking, running and studying altogether. One day, when all my brothers, and sisters were sitting and eating, my mother went on giving me chappathis (even, though we are rice eaters only, wheat was rationed) when I finished eating, my elder, brother called me privately and scolded me. “Kalam, do you know what was, happening? You went on eating chappathi, and mother went on giving you. She has, given all her chappathis to you. It is a difficult time. Be a responsible son and do not, make your mother starve”., The first time I had a shivering sensation and I could not control myself. I rushed, to the kitchen and hugged her., 1. What made Kalam realized his mother’s starving?, a. Leaving of cousin brother, b. Mother’s hug, c. Rationed wheat, d. Brother’s scolding

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2. This passage mainly refers to:, a. Sister, b. Elder sister, c. Cousin sister, d. Mother, 3. Which is the synonym of the word simultaneously given in the passage?, a. Together, b. Get over, c. At the same time, d. Go round, 4. This passage is an example for:, a. Profile, b. Biography, c. Autobiography, d. Description, 5. He is a sun in my mind ______ this figure of speech used here is a:, a. Simile, b. Metaphor, c. Imagery, d. Alliteration, 6. Which one is the correct form?, a. The trees give us fresh air, b. The trees given us fresh air, c. The trees give us fresh air, d. The trees have been given us fresh air, 7. They were happy ________ the company ________ each other., a. Of, in, b. With, of, c. In, for, d. Of, with, 8. How will you request your friend in a situation, to give you a company?, a. Could you give please, b. Would you mind if I ask your help?, c. Please let me know if you come or not, d. Kindly allow me to go, 9. Choose the suitable one from the following to get the meaning of Put on., a. To wear clothes, b. To go somewhere, c. To speak something, d. To place an object, 10. Which word is correctly spelt?, a. Territories, b. Terittories, c. Territories, d. Teritaries, Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate usage given below.

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11. A person who lives alone and away from the society can be called ___________ ., a. Hermit, b. Beggar, c. Tourist, d. Wanderer, 12. He was suspended from his duties, because he ________ ., a. Did a mistake, b. Committed a mistake, c. Made a mistake, d. Done a mistake, Read the poem and answer the questions given below:, Little Things, Little drops of water,, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, And the pleasant land, Thus, the little minutes,, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages, Of eternity, So our little errors, Lead the soul away, From the path of virtue, Far in sin to stray, Little deeds of kindness, Little words of love,, Help to make earth happy, Like the heaven above., 13. Which makes the earth unhappy?, a. Kindness, b. Love, c. Virtues, d. Errors, 14. How the earth is compared to?

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a. Heaven, b. Land, c. Ocean, d. Sand, 15. What the poem tells about?, a. Every small thing has its own value., b. Little things need not be counted., c. Sand and water make the earth., d. Little things have hardly any value in life., , Answers, 1. D – Brother’s scolding, 2. D - Mother, 3. C – at the same time, 4. B - biography, 5. B – metaphor, 6. C – the trees give us fresh air, 7. D – of, with, 8. A – could you give please, 9. A – to wear clothes, 10. B – territories, 11. A – hermit, 12. B – committed a mistake, 13. B – love, 14. A – heaven, 15. A – every small thing has its own value., , USS Feb 2019, Questions 1 to 4: Read the following paragraph and answer all the questions. Select, the correct option., It was no long before night came and plunged everything into darkness., Nothing could be seen except the white foam of the waves. Their regular beating, against the hull, the constant hiss of the swirling waters, and the continuous hum of, the engine could be heard all the time. Occasionally, I saw a red light somewhere in, the sea indicating spots of danger. There was no other light to be seen anywhere, because the ship was far away from any coast. Once or twice, a cluster of lights of a, passing ship could be seen moving steadily in the distance for some time before, vanishing. The initial excitement of the voyage was slowly wearing away as there was, nothing much to see from the deck. After a while, uncle, Ajai and I trooped down to, our living quarters. Back in our room, each one opened his or her bag, took out the, essential things that would be required daily, and changed into more comfortable, clothes; we begin to settle down for the long voyage. Later, Ajai and I continued to, look outside the porthole using the binoculars. In the meantime, uncle left for his mess, duties. Every scientist had to take up some duty in the mess because bearers and, servants were not available aboard.

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1. Pick up a word from the paragraph which indicates a small glassed window on, the wall., a. Hiss, b. Deck, c. Spots, d. Porthole, 2. Red lights in the sea indicate ___________., a. Areas of prohibited place, b. Areas of whale., c. Areas of danger, d. Areas of comfortable place, 3. The writer of the above paragraph is travelling in __________., a. An aeroplane, b. A ship, c. A bus, d. A train, 4. The writer lost his interest in the voyage as:, a. He couldn’t see anything other than red lights., b. He was afraid., c. He was sick., d. He was alone., Questions 5 – 12: Select the correct answer for each question from the options given., 5. Look at following sentence., ‘I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag’., The idiomatic expression ‘let the cat out of the bag’ means:, a. Let the cat free by mistake., b. Couldn’t keep the secret and told carelessly or by mistake, c. Opened her bag., d. Let the cat jump out of the bag., 6. Select the correct option to complete the following sentence., Calculator is an electronic device __________ is used for doing calculations., a. Who, b. What, c. When, d. Which, 7. Fill in the blanks., If he ___________ in films, he will become famous., a. Sang, b. Sung, c. Sings, d. Sing, 8. Fill in the blanks using appropriate word., He kept his ________ of keys on the table and walked to the library., a. Flight, b. Team

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c. Bunch, d. Gang, 9. They have been studying in the same school ___________ 2010., a. Since, b. For, c. On, d. By, 10. I met Asha Irene ___________ the way. She lives ___________ Chennai., a. At, in, b. On, in, c. In, at, d. In, on, 11. Which of the following proverb means ‘a timely effort will prevent more work later’?, a. Don’t cry over the spilt milk., b. An apple a day keeps the doctor away., c. A stitch in time saves nine., d. Too many cooks spoil the broth., 12. Identify the rhyme scheme of the limerick., a. Aabba, b. Bbaaa, c. Ababa, d. Abaab, Questions 13 – 15: Read the following poem and answer the questions. Select the best, options., Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Whose woods these are I think I know., His house is in the village though;, He will not see me stopping here, To watch his woods, fill up with snow., , My little horse must think it queer, To stop without a farmhouse near, Between the woods and frozen lake, The darkest evening of the year., , He gives his harness bells a shake, To ask if there is some mistake.

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The only other sound’s the sweep, Of easy wind and downy flake., , The woods are lovely, dark and deep,, But I have promises to keep,, And miles to go before I sleep,, And miles to go before I sleep., 13. Why does the little horse give his harness bells a shake?, a. To see the glittering bells, b. To hear the sound of the bells in the snow, c. To ask if there is some mistake, d. To shake away the snow from the bells., 14. Why can’t the narrator stay long in the woods?, a. He is tired of waiting., b. His horse is sick., c. He has to keep promises., d. He is getting very cold., 15. The poet wanted to stop by the woods ___________., a. To take rest., b. To escape from the stormy night., c. To drink water, d. To watch the woods, fill up with snow., , Answers, 1. D – Porthole, 2. C – Areas of danger, 3. B – A ship, 4. A – He couldn’t see anything other than the red lights., 5. B - Couldn’t keep the secret and told carelessly or by mistake, 6. C – which, 7. C – sings, 8. C – bunch, 9. A – since, 10. B – on, in, 11. C - A stitch in time saves nine., 12. A – AABBA, 13. C - To ask if there is some mistake, 14. C - He has to keep promises., 15. D - To watch the woods, fill up with snow.

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USS Feb 2020, Questions 1 – 4: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow by, choosing the right answer from the options given along with each question., Dr. Wangari Maathai from Kenya was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her, work in development, environmental protection and peace in 2004. Dr. Maathai, a, university professor by profession was an environmental activist and politician. She was, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize., Dr. Maathai is quite assertive as a leader of the African women. She introduced, the idea of planting trees to save the environment. She organized a group of women, called Green Belt Movement to plant trees. More than 30 million trees have planted., They are now helping to protect the environment by providing groundwater, causing, more rainfall and retaining water. These trees also provide material benefits including, firewood, fruits, nuts and building materials for the women and their families., 1. Green Belt Movement in Kenya encourages ________________., a. Political strikes, b. Building schools, c. Planting trees, d. None of the above, 2. As a leader Dr. Wangari Maathai is ___________., a. Assertive, b. Accommodative, c. Envious, d. Reliable, 3. By profession Dr. Wangari Maathai was a ___________., a. Physician, b. University teacher, c. Journalist, d. Activist, 4. What rare honour does Dr. Wangari Maathai have as an African?, a. She is the first African woman to become a university teacher., b. She is the first African woman to become an environmentalist., c. She is the first African woman to become a politician., d. She is the first African woman to become the winner of the Nobel, Peace Prize., Questions 5 – 12: Pick out the right answer from the options given., 5. I saw a girl ___________ was carrying a basket on her head., a. That, b. Which, c. Who, d. Where, 6. There was hurt _________ real anger __________ his voice., a. And, in, b. Since, by

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c. So, on, d. For, out, 7. __________________ the sun is shining it is not very warm., a. Although, b. So, c. Because, d. But, 8. He took out a ___________ of keys from his pocket and opened the lock., a. Stack, b. Crowd, c. Bouquet, d. Bunch, 9. The barefooted runner won the prize. The underlined word means _____________., a. Not properly dressed up, b. Not wearing shoes, c. Not wearing sports jersey, d. Not physically fit, 10. “the wind stood up and gave a shout.” The figure of speech used in the line is, ______________., a. Simile, b. Metaphor, c. Onomatopoeia, d. Personification, 11. I will ____________ to you as soon as the result is out., a. Get up, b. Get down, c. Get across, d. Get away, 12. On the coming Sunday my friend and I ______________ going to watch a movie., a. Am, b. Are, c. Is, d. Have, Questions 13 – 15: Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow by, choosing the right answer from the options given., A Poison Tree, I was angry with my friend;, I told my wrath; my wrath did end., I was angry with my foe:, I told it not, my wrath did grow., , And I watered it in fears,

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Night and morning with my tears,, And I sunned it with smiles,, And with soft deceitful wiles., , And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright,, And my foe beheld it shine,, And he knew that it was mine., , And into my garden stole,, When the night had veiled the pole;, In the morning, glad I see, My foe outstretched beneath the tree., , 13. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem., a. Abab, b. Abba, c. Aabb, d. Abcb, 14. What did the speaker do when he was angry with his friend?, a. He kept it in his mind., b. He told about it to his friend., c. He waited for an opportunity to take revenge., d. He planted an apple tree., 15. Which one of the following can be the theme of the poem?, a. Beauty of nature, b. Conservation of forest, c. Unresolved anger, d. Global warming., , Answers, 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., , C – Planting trees, A – Assertive, B – A university professor, D – She is the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize., C – who, A – and, in, A – Although, C – bunch

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9. B – not wearing shoes, 10. D – Personification, 11. B – Get up, 12. B – are, 13. C – aabb, 14. A – He kept it in his mind., 15. C – unresolved anger