PS TET Paper 2: English Language Test - 1 (Science and Mathematics) - PS TET MCQ

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows.
Africa was once filled with an abundance of wild animals. But, that is changing fast. One of these animals, the black rhinoceros, lives on the plains of Africa. It has very poor eyesight and a very bad temper! Even though the black rhino is powerful, and can be dangerous, its strength cannot always help it to escape hunters. Some people think that the rhino’s horn has magical powers and many hunters kill rhinos for their valuable horns. This has caused the black rhino to be placed on the endangered species list. The elephant seems to represent all that is strong and wild in Africa. It once had no natural enemies, but is now endangered—killed for its ivory tusks. Wherever people are careless about the land, there are endangered species. Grizzly bears like to wander great distances. Each bear needs up to 1,500 square miles of territory to call its homeland. Today, because forests have been cleared to make room for people, the grizzly’s habitat is shrinking and the grizzly is disappearing. It joins other endangered North American animals, such as the red wolf and the American crocodile.
In South America, destruction of the rain forest threatens many animals. Unusual mammals, such as the howler monkey and the three-toed sloth, are endangered. Beautiful birds like the great green macaw and the golden parakeet are also becoming extinct. They are losing their homes in the rain forest and thousands die when they are caught and shipped off to be sold as exotic pets. The giant panda of Asia is a fascinating and unique animal. Yet, there are only about 1,000 still living in the wild. The giant panda’s diet consists mainly of the bamboo plant, so when the bamboo forests die, so does the panda. China is now making an effort to protect these special creatures from becoming extinct. Unfortunately, it is people who cause many of the problems that animals face. We alter and pollute their habitats. We hunt them for skins, tusks, furs and horns. We destroy animals that get in the way of farming or building. And we remove them from their natural habitats and take them home as pets.

Q. The first paragraph has words like 'abundance', 'magical', 'dangerous' and 'valuable'. So, a teacher could aim to teach

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. 
Nature is an infinite source of beauty. Sunrise and sunset, mountains and rivers, lakes and glaciers, forests and fields provide joy and bliss to the human mind and heart for hours together. Everything in nature is splendid and divine. Every day and every season of the year has a peculiar beauty to unfold. Only one should have eyes to behold it and a heart to feel it like the English poet William Wordsworth who after seeing daffodils said: And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils?
Nature is a great teacher. Early man was thrilled with the beauty and wonders of nature. The Aryans worshipped nature. One can learn lessons in the vast school of nature. Unfortunately, the strife, the stress and the tension of modern life have made people immune to the beauties of nature. Their life is so full of care that they have no time to stand and stare. They cannot enjoy the beauty of lowing rivers, swinging trees, flying birds and majestic mountains and hills. There is, however, a cry to go back to the village from the concrete and artificial jungle of cities. Hence the town planners of today pay special attention to providing enough natural scenic spots in town planning To develop a balanced personality, one needs to have a healthy attitude which can make us appreciate and enjoy the beauty of nature. There is another balm to soothe our tired souls and listless minds than the infinite nature all around us. We should enjoy it fully to lead a balanced and harmonious life, full of peace and tranquility.

Q. According to the author of the passage, Nature:
(a) is the ultimate salvation of man
(b) is the creator of this universe
(c) is abundantly glorious and divine
(d) maintains homeostasis in human beings

While writing, a student finds difficulty in expressing his/her views clearly due to a lack of vocabulary. A possible solution would be the following:

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
The scene presented by a community of bees is the more astonishing, the more we become acquainted with its details. Each hive is a commonwealth, of which the queen is nominally the head, receiving the greatest honour and care from her industrious subjects. With a greater wisdom than can be claimed by men, these creatures allow no disputes about the succession to the throne to induce them to injure each other; but they require the parties themselves individually to settle the quarrel between each other, without prolonged interference with the duties of the hive. Indeed, they may be said with truth to have adopted the advice: Let those who make the quarrels, be the only ones to fight. Only one queen is permitted to hold office in the community at a time; but while her claims are undisputed, she is treated with singular respect and affection. Indeed, her presence, and the prospect of a future generation, appear the chief motives of the insects to exert themselves.

Q. 'The prospect of a future generation' suggests that the writer is ______ in his/her outlook.

Read the following passage carefully.
Discursive writing refers to a style of writing that presents a balanced argument by considering various points of view. This type of writing allows the writer to explore different perspectives and draw conclusions based on evidence and reasoning. Discursive writing provides an opportunity for the writer to critically analyze a topic and consider different perspectives. This style of writing can also be used to present a convincing argument and persuade the reader to accept a particular viewpoint. Additionally, discursive writing helps the writer to develop analytical skills and improves critical thinking abilities.
However, discursive writing can also have some disadvantages. One of the main challenges is finding credible sources of information to support one's arguments. In addition, it can be difficult to keep the writing objective and neutral, especially when dealing with controversial or sensitive topics. Moreover, discursive writing can become repetitive and monotonous if the writer focuses too much on presenting different perspectives without offering a conclusion. To effectively write a discursive essay, it is important to research the topic thoroughly and gather relevant information from credible sources. The writer should also aim to present a balanced argument by considering both sides of the issue. Additionally, the writer should focus on developing clear and well-structured paragraphs and use transitional words to guide the reader through the argument.
In conclusion, discursive writing is a valuable tool for exploring different perspectives and drawing well-reasoned conclusions. However, it is important to approach the task with care and consideration to ensure that the writing is objective and presents a balanced argument. With the right preparation and strategy, discursive writing can be an enjoyable and effective way to express one's opinions and thoughts on a particular topic.

Q. What strategies are recommended for effective discursive writing in the passage?

Direction: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the most appropriate options:
A duty is an obligation. It is something we owe to others as social beings when we live together. We must let others live with us. My right of living implies my duty to my fellow beings to allow them the same conditions of life. In fact, rights and duties are correlated. What is a right in regard to one may be a duty in regard to others Rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. We should always observe from the standpoint of others. Moral duty is more effective than legal rights. A moral duty is that which is binding upon the people on moral grounds. It is my moral duty to help the poor because of being a member of the society.
I must try to create conditions that contribute to the welfare of humanity. Similarly, I owe a duty to my parents—to be obedient and respectful to them. This duty originates from the sense of responsibility which is directly related to our conscience. So, this is concerned with a moral duty which any person owes without a legal bondage.
A sense of duty is paramount for the proper development of civilization. Hypocrisy is quite reverse to the sense of duty. It involves wickedness, while duty involves sincerity and faithfulness.

Q. The word ‘always’ in “We should always observe from the standpoint of others” is a/an ______.

Directions: Read the poem given below and answer the question that follows.
T'was the night before Christmas,
And all through the kitchen,
My mother was cooking some delicious chicken.
All of the sudden,
The light bulb broke,
And my mother randomly started to choke.
In a flash, superman came.
My brother thought his costume was lame.
And instead of rescuing the day,
He ate up my dinner,
And he flew away !
Santa burnt the house with dynamites and flares,
I guess I was on the naughty list, next year,
I'll care !

Q. The night before Christmas is also spoken of as

The digital revolution has indisputably reshaped our society, permeating virtually every facet of life. We live in a hyperconnected era, where the boundary between the real and virtual worlds is increasingly blurred. Though its benefits are myriad, it's worth pausing to consider the potential downsides of this digital immersion.
On the one hand, technology has democratized information, fostering global connectivity and accessibility. The internet, smartphones, and various digital platforms have empowered us with the ability to learn, communicate, and collaborate like never before. They have catapulted us into an era of unprecedented convenience and opportunity, where we can virtually traverse the globe with a simple click.
Yet, this digital immersion also comes with pitfalls. The unending influx of information can overwhelm our cognitive capabilities, leading to information overload. The constant bombardment of updates, notifications, and messages can disrupt our focus, leading to a condition known as "digital fatigue." Further, it's alarming to see the increasing prevalence of cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and disinformation campaigns, which have severe consequences on our societal harmony.
The digital revolution is a double-edged sword. It grants us unparalleled access to knowledge, yet it can also breed distraction, misinformation, and anxiety. We need to strike a balance, leveraging the best of what technology offers while mitigating its downsides. As we continue to navigate this digital landscape, it's crucial to remember that technology is merely a tool—it's how we use it that ultimately defines its impact.

Q. Which statement is false according to the passage?

If you are testing your students' comprehension of written English, you are testing their understanding of what they have just

Directions: Read the poem given below and answer the question that follows.
T'was the night before Christmas,
And all through the kitchen,
My mother was cooking some delicious chicken.
All of the sudden,
The light bulb broke,
And my mother randomly started to choke.
In a flash, superman came.
My brother thought his costume was lame.
And instead of rescuing the day,
He ate up my dinner,
And he flew away !
Santa burnt the house with dynamites and flares,
I guess I was on the naughty list, next year,
I'll care !

Q. The night before Christmas is also spoken of as

The digital revolution has indisputably reshaped our society, permeating virtually every facet of life. We live in a hyperconnected era, where the boundary between the real and virtual worlds is increasingly blurred. Though its benefits are myriad, it's worth pausing to consider the potential downsides of this digital immersion.
On the one hand, technology has democratized information, fostering global connectivity and accessibility. The internet, smartphones, and various digital platforms have empowered us with the ability to learn, communicate, and collaborate like never before. They have catapulted us into an era of unprecedented convenience and opportunity, where we can virtually traverse the globe with a simple click.
Yet, this digital immersion also comes with pitfalls. The unending influx of information can overwhelm our cognitive capabilities, leading to information overload. The constant bombardment of updates, notifications, and messages can disrupt our focus, leading to a condition known as "digital fatigue." Further, it's alarming to see the increasing prevalence of cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and disinformation campaigns, which have severe consequences on our societal harmony.
The digital revolution is a double-edged sword. It grants us unparalleled access to knowledge, yet it can also breed distraction, misinformation, and anxiety. We need to strike a balance, leveraging the best of what technology offers while mitigating its downsides. As we continue to navigate this digital landscape, it's crucial to remember that technology is merely a tool—it's how we use it that ultimately defines its impact.

Q. Which statement is false according to the passage?

If you are testing your students' comprehension of written English, you are testing their understanding of what they have just

Directions: Read the given poem and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
As I Watch You Grow
Do you know how much you mean to me?
As you grow into what you will be.
You came from within, from just beneath my heart.
It's there you'll always be, though your own life will now start.
You're growing so fast it sends me a whirl,
With misty eyes I ask, Where's my little girl?
I know sometimes to you I seem harsh and so unfair,
But one day you will see, I taught you well because I care.
The next few years will so quickly fly,
With laughter and joy, mixed with a few tears to cry.
As you begin your growth to womanhood, this fact you must know,
You'll always be my source of pride, no matter where you go.
You must stand up tall and proud, within you feel no fear,
For all you dreams and goals sit before you very near.
With God's love in your heart and the world by its tail,
You'll always be my winner, and victory will prevail.
For you this poem was written, with help from above,
To tell you in a rhythm of your Mother's heartfelt love!
-KayTheese

Q. An antonym for the word 'harsh' is

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the question. (choose the most appropriate answers)
When another old cave is discovered in the South France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals , such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals. Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental difficult task. They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside, Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.

Q. According to the Passage, which animals appear most often on the cave walls ?

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as if by an error of fate, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no expectations, no means of becoming known, understood, loved, or wedded by a man of wealth and distinction. So she let herself be married to a minor official at the Ministry of Education.
She dressed plainly because she had never been able to afford anything better, but she was as unhappy as if she had once been wealthy. Women don't belong to a caste or class; their beauty, grace, and natural charm take the place of birth and family. Natural delicacy, instinctive elegance, and a quick wit determine their place in society and make the daughters of commoners the equals of the very finest ladies.
She suffered endlessly, feeling she was entitled to all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She suffered because of the poorness of her house as she looked at the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs, and the ugly curtains. All these things that another woman of her class would not even have noticed tormented her and made her resentful. The sight of the little Brenton girl who did her housework filled her with terrible regrets and hopeless fantasies. She dreamed of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestries, lit from above by torches in bronze holders, while two tall footmen in knee-length breeches napped in huge armchairs, sleepy from the stove's oppressive warmth. She dreamed of vast living rooms furnished in rare old silks, elegant furniture loaded with priceless ornaments, and inviting smaller rooms, perfumed, made for afternoon chats with close friends - famous, sought after men, who all women envy and desire.
When she sat down to dinner at a round table covered with a three-day-old cloth opposite her husband who, lifting the lid off the soup, shouted excitedly, "Ah! Beef stew! What could be better," she dreamed of fine dinners, of shining silverware, of tapestries which peopled the walls with figures from another time and strange birds in fairy forests; she dreamed of delicious dishes served on wonderful plates, of whispered gallantries listened to with an inscrutable smile as one ate the pink flesh of a trout or the wings of a quail.

Q. Which one of the following words is most similar in meaning to the word, ‘hopeless'?

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows.
Once upon a time, there lived a sparrow in a tree. He was very happy to have a beautiful and comfortable nest of his own in the tree. The sparrow used to fly to far off places to pick at grains from so many fields, full of crops. At the Sun set, he would return to his perch. One day, the sparrow ate his fill, but could not return to his nest because of the heavy rains which continued for the whole night. The sparrow had to spend the whole night in a big banyan tree a little distance away from home.
The next morning, when the rain stopped and the sky became clear, the sparrow returned to his tree. He was astonished to find a rabbit occupying his beautiful and comfortable nest. The sparrow lost his temper and spoke to the rabbit, "It's my home you're sitting in. Please quit this place at once".
"Do not talk like a fool", replied the rabbit. "Trees, rivers and lakes do not belong to anyone. Places like these are yours only so long as you are living in. If someone else occupies it in your absence, it belongs to the new occupant. So, go away and do not disturb me anymore".
But, the sparrow was not satisfied with this illogical reply. He said, "Let's ask a person of wisdom and only then our case will be settled".
At a distance from the tree, there lived a wild cat. The cat, somehow, overheard the discussion that took place between the sparrow and the rabbit.
The cat immediately thought of a plan, took a holy dip in the river, and then sat like a priest and began chanting God's name in a loud tone. When the rabbit and the sparrow heard the cat chanting God's name, they approached him with a hope to get impartial justice and requested him to pass a judgement in the matter.
The cat became very happy to have both of them in front of him. He pretended to listen to their arguments. But, as soon as the right opportunity came, the cat pounced upon both of them and killed and ate them together with great relish. 
(from Panchtantra)

Q. This story can be used for teaching

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Some words may be highlighted. Pay attention.
While the apprehension of losing job security is the most natural human tendency, there are some factors like technology that are beyond an individual's control. The sooner the employees embrace the truth, the easier it would be to convert it into an opportunity. This can be done by upgrading employee-skillset with the following skills for the requirement of future roles:
Leadership: The ability to lead the automation change will be a crucial skill in the organization. The leader will be also responsible for identifying the right talent in the machine age and engaging the workforce through human touch points.
Information Technology: Who can handle technology better than the technologists themselves? However, automation will force employees to hone their understanding of big data, machine learning, cloud computing, augmented reality, and mathematical and analytical skills. With the huge amount of data available, they should be able to apply it to present insight.
Management: The future workplaces will be a collaboration of machines/robots and humans. Hence, the managerial skills required to strike a balance between machines and human emotions, and making them work alongside will also come handy.
Soft Skills: Machines are after all machines. They may do work more quickly and efficiently, but they can't bring in 100 percent human touch and feel. There will be areas where people to people interaction, human relationships, and networking will still matter, hence soft skills such as communication, social and behavioural, cognitive and emotional intelligence would be expected from the employees.
It's about time that employees start reskilling/upgrading their skills and search for relevant programmes/courses in their organizations or outside. For example, IT major Capgemini is planning to train each of its one lakh employees in India in digital skills by 2018. Intel has launched 60 courses as a part of its 'AI Developer Education Programme' to train 15,000 Indian engineers, developers, scientists, and students.
It can't be denied that automation will impact the jobs considerably in India. However, developing people-centric skills and upgrading/reskilling for new roles could help employees tide over the automation wave.

Q. According to the passage, which of the following soft skills would NOT be expected from the employees?

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions given below. 
Biodiversity for food and agriculture is among the earth’s most important resources. Crops, farm animals, aquatic organisms, forest trees, micro-organisms, and invertebrates – thousands of species and their genetic variability make up the web of biodiversity in ecosystems that the world’s food production depends on. Biodiversity is indispensable, be it insects pollinating plants, microscopic bacteria needed for making cheese, diverse breeds of livestock needed for living even in the harshest of environments, or the thousands of varieties of crops that sustain food security worldwide. For thousands of years, humankind has used, developed, and relied on biodiversity for food and agriculture. Biodiversity, and in particular genetic diversity, is being lost at an alarming rate. With the erosion of these resources, mankind loses the potential to adapt to new socio-economic and environmental conditions, such as population growth and climate change. Maintaining biodiversity for food and agriculture is a global responsibility. Risking biodiversity to man-made or other factors will always lead to an extremely large-scale famine of sheer magnitude. The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is an international forum that specifically deals with all components of biodiversity for sustaining food and agriculture. 
The importance of agricultural biodiversity encompasses socio-cultural, economic, and environmental elements.  All domesticated crops and animals result from the management of biodiversity, which is constantly responding to new challenges to maintain and increase productivity under constantly varying conditions and population pressures. Agricultural biodiversity is essential to satisfy basic human needs for food and livelihood security. Biodiversity, food, and nutrition interact on a number of key issues. It contributes directly to food security, nutrition, and well-being by providing a variety of plants and animals from domesticated and wild sources. Biodiversity can also serve as a safety net to vulnerable households relying on it during times of crisis, provide income opportunities to the rural poor, and sustain productive agricultural ecosystems. Coping mechanisms based on indigenous plants are particularly important for the most vulnerable people who have little access to formal employment, land, or market opportunities. Wild indigenous plants provide alternate sources of food when harvests fail.

Q. Agricultural biodiversity encompasses which of the following? 

While writing a precis of a passage, you must reduce the passage to

Errors made by children are indicative of-

Direction: ​Read the given passages carefully and answer the question that follows.
Everything that men do or think concerns either the satisfaction of the needs they feel or the need to escape from pain. This must be kept in mind when we seek to understand spiritual or intellectual movements and the way in which they develop, for feeling and longing are the motive forces of all human striving and productivity – however nobly these latter may display themselves to us.
What, then, are the feelings and the needs which have brought mankind to religious thought and to faith in the widest sense? A moment’s consideration shows that the most varied emotions stand at the cradle of religious thought and experience.
In primitive people, it is, first of all, fear that awakens religious ideas – fear of hunger, of wild animals, of illness, and of death. Since the understanding of causal connections is usually limited on this level of existence, the human soul forges a being, more or less like itself, on whose will and activities depend the experiences which it fears. One hopes to win the favor of this being, by deeds and sacrifices, which according to the tradition of the race are supposed to appease the being or to make him well disposed to man. I call this the religion of fear.
This religion is considerably established, though not caused, by the formation of priestly caste which claims to mediate between the people and the being they fear and so attains a position of power. Often a leader or despot will combine the function of the priesthood with its own temporal rule for the sake of greater security, or an alliance may exist between the interests of political power and the priestly caste.

Q. “Human soul forges a being” means:

Considering students' learning styles broadens the approaches taken to help language-related problems. An example of a learning style is

The abrupt change between languages one knows in order to maximize communication efficiency is called?

The investigations which are conducted to check what the student learns while in school are called:

An individual with a learning disability is likely to

Teachers help learners ‘construct’ their knowledge in English by

Direction: Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention.
The big fuss about consensus management is an issue that boils down to a lot of noise about not much. The consensus advocates are great admirers of the Japanese management style. Consensus is what Japan is famous for. Well, I know the Japanese fairly well: They still remember Douglas MacArthur with respect, and they still bow down to their Emperor. In my dealings with them, I found that they talk a lot about consensus, but there's always one guy behind the scenes who ends up making the tough decisions. It doesn't make sense to me to think that Mr. Toyoda or Mr. Morita of Sony sits around in committee meetings and says, "We've got to get everybody in this organization, from the janitor up, to agree with this move". The Japanese believe in their workers' involvement early on in the decision-making process and in feedback from employees. And they probably listen better than we do. But you can bet that when the chips are down, the yen stops at the top guy's desk. So, we're wasting time trying to Direction: Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention.
The big fuss about consensus management is an issue that boils down to a lot of noise about not much. The consensus advocates are great admirers of the Japanese management style. Consensus is what Japan is famous for. Well, I know the Japanese fairly well: They still remember Douglas MacArthur with respect, and they still bow down to their Emperor. In my dealings with them, I found that they talk a lot about consensus, but there's always one guy behind the scenes who ends up making the tough decisions. It doesn't make sense to me to think that Mr. Toyoda or Mr. Morita of Sony sits around in committee meetings and says, "We've got to get everybody in this organization, from the janitor up, to agree with this move". The Japanese believe in their workers' involvement early on in the decision-making process and in feedback from employees. And they probably listen better than we do. But you can bet that when the chips are down, the yen stops at the top guy's desk. So, we're wasting time trying to emulate something I don't think really exists.
Business structures are microcosms of other structures. There were no corporations in the fifteenth century. But there were families. There were city governments, provinces, and armies. There was the Church. All of them had, for lack of a better word, a pecking order.
Why? Because that's the only way you can steer clear of anarchy. Otherwise, you'll have somebody come in one morning and tell you: "Yesterday I got tired of painting red convertibles, so today I switched to all baby-blues on my own". You'll never get anything done right that way.
What's to admire about consensus management anyway? By its very nature, it's slow. It can never be daring. There can never be real accountability - or flexibility. About the only plus that I've been able to figure out is that consensus management means consistency of direction and objectives. And so much consistency can become faceless, and that's a problem too. In any event, I don't think it can work in this country. The fun of business for entrepreneurs, big or small, lies in the free enterprise system, not in the greatest agreement by the greatest number.
Business structures are microcosms of other structures. There were no corporations in the fifteenth century. But there were families. There were city governments, provinces, and armies. There was the Church. All of them had, for lack of a better word, a pecking order.
Why? Because that's the only way you can steer clear of anarchy. Otherwise, you'll have somebody come in one morning and tell you: "Yesterday I got tired of painting red convertibles, so today I switched to all baby-blues on my own". You'll never get anything done right that way.
What's to admire about consensus management anyway? By its very nature, it's slow. It can never be daring. There can never be real accountability - or flexibility. About the only plus that I've been able to figure out is that consensus management means consistency of direction and objectives. And so much consistency can become faceless, and that's a problem too. In any event, I don't think it can work in this country. The fun of business for entrepreneurs, big or small, lies in the free enterprise system, not in the greatest agreement by the greatest number.

Q. In the phrase 'emulate something I don't think exists', what according to the author is that does 'not exist'?