NTSE Question Paper 2014 (National Level- Stage-II)

SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST

(For Students of Class X) LANGUAGE TEST-ENGLISH
Time allowed : 45

Min. Maximum Marks : 50

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
Ray Bradbury is regarded as one of the greats of 20th century science fiction along with Isaac Asimov and A.C.
Clarke. He established himself at the age of thirty with The Martial Chronicle, which perhaps remains his best
known work. The book celebrates space travel, but it is also critical of the social abuses that modern technology
had made possible. Through other writers had represented science and technology as a mixed bag of blessings, his
book had a great impact. Initially his audience was small as most readers had no patience with jargon. His
popularity grew as he avoided technical words and expressed his ideas about the future in common language.
1. Ray Bradbury became famous because
(a) He was friends with Isaac Asimov and A.C. Clarke.
(b) He started writing at the age of thirty.
(c) He wrote in futuristic language.
(d) Of the book The Martial Chronicle that he wrote.
2. In his books Bradbury expressed the view that modern technology
(a) Had made space travel possible
(b) Was based on the inventions of great scientists like Asimov and Clarke
(c) Appealed only to a small audience of readers who knew jargon
(d) Was as good thing but could be misuses
3. Bradburys fear regarding the development and use of modern technology were
(a) Totally unfounded and unconvincing
(b) Related to his personal experiences as a user of technology
(c) Shared by other writers of science fiction as well
(d) Expressed using jargon
4. The phrase mixed bag of blessings means
(a) Having both advantages and disadvantages
(b) The constant interaction between science and technology which benefits both
(c) Having both familiar and unexpected consequences
(d) Using technical words and expressions
5. The phrase no patience with jargon refers to
(a) Fiction writers lack of knowledge of proper technical terms
(b) Readers lack of interest in fiction containing many technical terms
(c) The negative attitude of scientists and technologists to fiction
(d) The use of difficult words

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Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
On the second day of our stay we had a skiing lesson. We began with learning how to clip on the special shoes and
strap on the skis. Then we tried to master the art of balancing on the skis as we moved sideways and forward.
There was a lot of slipping and falling. But were finally managed slow runs down the gentle slope. The helmeted
toddlers skimming around like small gnats were an embarrassing contrast to our clumsiness. But we ignored them
firmly. Soon, exhausted we cut short the lesson and retreated to the institute.
All around us youngsters were happily trying their hand at skiing, snowboarding and floating in hot air balloons like
flitting sky gods. It was truly a winter wonderland to revel in.
6. The difficult part of learning to ski for beginners is
(a) Clipping on shoes and strapping on skis
(b) Balancing on skis while moving sideways and forward
(c) Avoiding bumping into noisy toddlers
(d) Doing fast runs on the steep slopes
7. The expression skimming around like small gnats suggests that the toddlers were
(a) Able to go skillfully up and down the slopes
(b) An irritation as they moved in all directions noisily
(c) Skilled and confident like pilots of fighter planes
(d) Careless and kept bumping into those around them
8. The writer and his friends cut short the skiing lessons because
(a) They were tired and needed to rest
(b) They did not like to be in the same place as toddlers
(c) They had to go for other lessons
(d) Many of them were hurt after falling down repeatedly
9. The institute mentioned is a place where
(a) Only families with children go during school holidays
(b) Advance training in skiing is given to prepare teams for competitions
(c) Nature and adventure camps for young children are organized
(d) Facilities and training for different winter sports is provided to visitors
10. The narrator in this passage seems to be
(a) A trainer of young children learning to ski
(b) An older skier who goes to the institute often
(c) A member of an older group of beginners
(d) A parent whose toddlers are learning to ski
Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.
The dainty swallow is known to be a great air-borne acrobatic artist, but its eating habits many come as a surprise.
It needs to devour nearly a thousand tiny insects each day to keep its supple body energized. These black and
white birds are found in the countryside, especially near water bodies and human habitations. Unlike birds who
peck at insects on trees or on the ground, swallows feed on flying insects, houseflies, mosquitoes, gnats, midgets,
etc. They spend most of the time in flight and are natural hunters of flying insects. They play a role in our health by

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reducing the numbers of malaria and dengue causing mosquitoes. Their bodies and wings allow incredible
maneuverability and precision in flight. Their short wide bills help them to feed as they sweep through clouds of
swarming insects near water and grasslands bits and above trees.
11. Swallows are largely found in
(a) Villages near rivers and lakes
(b) Cities with large water bodies and parks
(c) Places where human habits attract insects
(d) Forests with all trees
12. Swallows live near water bodies because
(a) Constant flying makes them thirsty
(b) They cannot store water in their short wide bills
(c) They love to skim over cool water as they perform acrobatics
(d) A large number of insects are found there
13. Swallows devour a large number of insects because
(a) They are natural hunters
(b) Their daily need for energy from food is very high
(c) Such insects would otherwise spread diseases
(d) The insects population is very large
14. The swallows short wide bill is designed to
(a) Trap small flying insects
(b) Destroy disease spread insects
(c) Help it perform acrobatic manoeuvers
(d) Help it fly through insect swarms with great precision
15. The swallow is described as an air-borne acrobat because of its
(a) High energy needs to keep its body supple
(b) Ability to catch even small insects
(c) Varied movement in fast flight
(d) Ability to eat insects
The following five sentences from a paragraph. The first and the last sentences are given. Choose the order in
which the four sentences (P, Q, R, S) should appear to complete the paragraph.
16. S1. Once an ant saw, hanging from a plant, a mature chrysalis which could just move its tail.
S2. _______________________________________________________________________
S3. _______________________________________________________________________
S4. _______________________________________________________________________
S5. _______________________________________________________________________
S6. The next moment the butterfly rose in the air and was soon out of the sight of the ant.
P The next morning as the ant passed by the same plant it saw a butterfly with gorgeous wings near the
remnants of the chrysalis.
Q Poor creature! You can just about move your tail while I can run here and there it mocked the chrysalis.
R Look at me, Ant! Can you fly from one place to another in a short time? it said as it dried its wings.
S The chrysalis heard all this but kept quiet.

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(a) QSPR
(b) RPSQ
(c) SPQR
(d) SRPQ
17. S1. We would like to thank you once again for having selected our dealership.
S2. __________________________________________________________________
S3. __________________________________________________________________
S4. __________________________________________________________________
S5. __________________________________________________________________
S6. We look forward to a long lasting relationship and wish you safe motoring.
P However, in case you experience any incidence which is not to your satisfaction we will be grateful if you
could provide your valuable feedback to us at our website.
Q We will bring necessary improvements in the process/organization to deliver better services to our
esteemed customers.
R First of all, our entire team is dedicated to ensure your complete satisfaction and give you a wonderful
experience
S This will help us to resolve your concern immediately
(a) SPQR
(b) RPSQ
(c) SQPR
(d) QRPS
18. The following questions have the second sentence missing. Choose the appropriate sentence from the given
options to complete it.
A. If you wanted to know all about bread and bread making you must visit the Bread Museum in Ulm, Germany.
B. ________________________________________________________________________________________
C. There are exhibitions on the cultivation of seeds, milling techniques, techniques of bread-making, equipment,
the sale of bread; virtually everything you wanted to know about bread.
(a) There are interesting tidbits on the use of bread on social and religious occasions as well
(b) A range of bread over, bread baskets and baking moulds are used in Germany
(c) Set up in 1955, this huge museum gives you a highly detailed history of bread making and displays about
10,000 objects related to bread and bread production
(d) Bread making is an ancient art
19.
A. Anne Frank began to keep a dairy on her thirteenth birthday, June 12, 1942, three weeks before she went
into hiding with her family and friends in the sealed-off upper rooms of the annex of her fathers office
building in Amsterdam.
B. _____________________________________________________________________________________
C. They, were, however, betrayed in August 1944 and were deported to the Nazi remained hidden for two
years and one month.
(a) With the assistance of a group of her father, Otto Franks trusted colleagues, they remained hidden for
two years and one month

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(b) Anne Frank was helped by her friends

(c) Anne died in Bergen-Belsen shortly before its liberation in April 1945
(d) Of the group of eight, only Otto Frank survived the war
Choose the word which best fills the blank from the four options given.
20. The hedge has become a little untidy after the monsoon. I think Ill call the gardener to _______ the edges a
bit.
(a) Thin
(b) Prim
(c) Slim
(d) Prune
21. The men drilled and __________ the stone into smaller bits so that they could be carted away in trucks.
(a) Mauled
(b) Hacked
(c) Whittle
(d) Hewed
22. Be careful. The cat might ____________ you if it feels frightened.
(a) Scratch
(b) Hit
(c) Cut
(d) Kill
23. She cut the cake into equal edges and ____________ it amongst the children.
(a) Scattered
(b) Separated
(c) Distributed
(d) Spread
24. For the curry you need to ___________ a few onions, a potato and a small piece of ginger.
(a) Chop
(b) Strip
(c) Saw
(d) Bite
25. The men ___________ off some of the upper branches of the tree near the window to allow more light in.
(a) Pluck
(b) Tore
(c) Brought
(d) Lopped
26. They picked their axes and __________ the thick bushes that grew all around.
(a) Slice
(b) Chopped
(c) Pulled
(d) Scratched

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27. The doctor made a neat ___________ at the mouth of the boil.
(a) Wound
(b) Dent
(c) Incision
(d) Path
In the following passage there are some numbered blanks. Fill in the blanks by selecting the most appropriate
word for each blank from the given options.
Unlike most nutrients, vitamin D is a hormone and is synthesized ______ (28) the body through a process _______
(29) depends upon the ultraviolet rays ______ (30) sunlight. Brief exposure of the face _______ (31) arms to
ultraviolet light _______ (32) the most reliable source of ________ (33) in spring and summer. Deficiency _______
(34) vitamin-D causes rickets. This ________ (36) Therefore, a good exposure to _________ (37) is essential.
28. Which fits in gap 28?
(a) With
(b) By
(c) For
(d) On
29. Which fits in gap 29?
(a) This
(b) That
(c) These
(d) There
30. Which fits in gap 30?
(a) Of
(b) By
(c) On
(d) For
31. Which fits in gap 31?
(a) But
(b) Because
(c) And
(d) Yet
32. Which fits in gap 32?
(a) Was
(b) Is
(c) Were
(d) Are
33. Which fits in gap 33?
(a) Vitamin-D
(b) Protein
(c) Cell
(d) Hormone

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34. Which fits in gap 34?

(a) Off
(b) For
(c) Of
(d) On
35. Which fits in gap in 35?
(a) Give
(b) Cause
(c) Causing
(d) Causes
36. Which fits in gap 36?
(a) Child
(b) Infants
(c) Young
(d) boy
37. Which fits in gap 37?
(a) Sunlight
(b) Sunlights
(c) Ray
(d) Lights
Choose the appropriate phrasal verbs to complete the sentences.
38. My sister ____________ our grandmother who loved to take up challenges.
(a) Takes back
(b) Takes off
(c) Takes after
(d) Takes in
39. Ravis family could never ____________ on his small salary if his wife had not decided to work.
(a) Get off
(b) Get by
(c) Get after
(d) Get round
40. Soon winter _____________ and the nights became misty and chilly.
(a) Set about
(b) Set off
(c) Set aside
(d) Set in
Select the meaning of the given phrases/idioms.
41. Take the bull by the horns
(a) Try to overpower a pull by catching hold of its horns
(b) Grapple with a difficult situation without avoiding it
(c) Act positively even if one is feeling angry
(d) Having a bull fight

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42. To think one is cats whiskers

(a) To think of oneself as a difficult person
(b) Think one is wonderful
(c) Think one is elegant like a cat
(d) Think one is honest
43. Talk shop
(a) Talk about shops in general
(b) Talk about ones shop
(c) Talk about work
(d) Talk about shopping
Selecting the most appropriate option to fill in the blanks from the given alternatives.
44. It is __________ to note that the government has at last decided to revise the salaries of railway linesman.
(a) Hearten
(b) Hearty
(c) Heartfelt
(d) Heartening
45. We need to be careful to ensure that our project is on the right __________.
(a) Route
(b) Road
(c) Track
(d) Way
46. With two school going children to manage, some of my mornings are quite ___________.
(a) Jumpy
(b) Rushed
(c) Quick
(d) Racy
47. Some of the areas in the hills are quite ______________ populated. You many not find a village for miles.
(a) Heavily
(b) Densely
(c) Sparsely
(d) Quietly
48. Most of the youngsters today are ____________ in social networking in all of their free time.
(a) Engaged
(b) Employed
(c) Involved
(d) Implicated
Select the word which means the opposite of the given word.
49. Miserable
(a) Painful
(b) Angry
(c) Happy
(d) Frightened

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50. Unique
(a) Special
(b) Uncommon
(c) Well-to-do
(d) Common-place

ANSWER KEY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

(d)
(d)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(b)
(a)
(a)
(d)
(c)

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

(a)
(d)
(b)
(a)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(d)

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(d)
(a)
(c)
(a)
(d)
(b)
(c)
(b)
(b)
(a)

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

(c)
(b)
(a)
(c)
(d)
(b)
(a)
(c)
(b)
(d)

41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

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(b)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(c)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(c)
(d)