BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM

CSS 2017 Solved Papers, English Précis & Composition

Written by: JWT Desk on March 11, 2017.

SYNONYMS
Fudge: (v); adjust or manipulate, tamper
SYN: misreport, tinker with, doctor, juggle
Clever accountants fudge the numbers to evade taxes.
Levitate: (v); rise or cause to rise and hover in the air
SYN: float, hover, glide, waft, fly, soar up
The magician levitated the woman.
Nicety: (n); a fine or subtle detail or distinction
SYN: subtlety, nuance, refinement
Legal niceties are wasted on him.
Occult: (adj); hidden and difficult to see
SYN: veiled, recondite, cryptic, arcane, abstruse,
The book examines the occult elements of the propaganda.
Peroration: (n); The concluding part of a speech
SYN: conclusion, summation, recapitulation, epilogue
The peroration of the speech is particularly impressive.
Trice: (n); an instant (usually used as in a trice)
SYN: instant, jiff, jiffy
Ask for a service, and somebody will be there in a trice.
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
Wanton: (adj); sexually immodest or promiscuous
SYN: immoral, unchaste, lecherous, lascivious, salacious
She lives her life as a wanton woman.
Wilted: (adj): not firm
SYN: diminished, dwindled, waned, weakened
The Valentine flowers are wilted and the candy is all gone.
Venial: (adj); (of a fault or offence) slight and pardonable
SYN: condonable, tolerable, all right
Of course, we’re all guilty of venial syntactical sins.
Nummary: (adj); of or relating to coins or money
SYN: nummular, coinage
The varieties of nummary denominations of different countries are reconciled by the par
of exchange.
ANTONYMS
Awry: (adj); in the wrong position; askew.
ANT: straight, symmetrical
But, King George’s smile was a bit awry tonight.
Crass: (adj); showing no intelligence or sensitivity
ANT: canny, astute, intuitive, discerning
Movies must have a message, not be crass entertainers.
Condign: (adj); (of Punishment, etc,.) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing, fitting
ANT: cruel, harsh, heavy, severe
In Pakistan, condign punishment is rare when the criminal is a man of high social
standing.
Dastard: (n); a dishonourable or despicable man
ANT: cad, craven, poltroon, recreant
Her mind was filled with an intense hate for the dastards that abducted her crewmates.
Occlude: (v); close up, shut in
ANT: open (up); unblock, unclog,
The waterfront was occluded with a wall of buildings.
Buxom: (adj); (of a woman’s body); having a large bosom and pleasing curves
ANT: skinny, boney, scrawny
Men of a certain age woo blonde, buxom women.
Revile: (v); criticize abusively or angrily
ANT: praise, extol, eulogize, applaud
He was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead.
Seedy: (adj); shabby and squalid
ANT: classy, superior, elegant
She felt weak and seedy.
Tortuous: (adj); Full of twists and turns
ANT: straight, direct, uncurving, unbending
The route is remote and tortuous
Vociferous: (adj); loud and forceful
ANT: silent, quiet, soft,
He was a vociferous opponent of the takeover.
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
PRÉCIS
Most of the evil in the world is because of the energetic and busy people. The confusion
and chaos that we see in world is not due to the lazy people but because of the active
people. The world is full of energetic people but their energy is mostly misdirected. Such
people only create confusion and mischief in the world. If the important people like
emperors, politicians, statesmen and generals in the past had been less active; our
world have been a far better place. Laziness is not a crime but a blessing in disguise in
many ways. The active and energetic people in the past did a great damage to the
world. Even at present it would be a great service to humanity, if half of the politicians
and religious leaders abandon their activities and take a long lazy break. In this way, the
world will be saved from their activities; and they will get an opportunity to restore their
mental health.

Title: Laziness – a blessing in disguise

COMPREHENSION (Answers)
1. The author laments that element of beauty has been limited only to the works of
artists and scientists, who are supposed to possess a rare sense for appreciation of
beauty. Art has disappeared from the lives of ordinary people and workmen. It is
unfortunate that common people and workmen are oblivious to the fact that aesthetics is
an essential part of life of every man, not just the prerogative of a few chosen people.
The fact is that aesthetic activity is activity of the spirit, and sense to appreciate beauty
is common to all human beings.
2. Artists are great lovers of life and they value beauty as a principle of life. It is not that
they are endowed with some exceptional quality. All human beings possess this
capacity, but the difference is that the artists use this ability with greater concentration
and consistency. For the common man, beauty is only a supplementary factor, but an
artist values beauty for the sake of beauty.
3. We can make our lives beautiful and charming by realizing the importance of
aesthetic aspects of every activity of life. We must discover the principle of beauty in
everything we do. It would add charm to life.
4. By this expression the writer wants to stress that beauty is not just a superficial
decoration – a discretionary choice. The writer believes that beauty is an integral part of
life. He thinks that the relationship between life and beauty is not optional but
compulsory. It is not a mere decoration but the very essence of life.
5. Art and aesthetics deeply influence our lives. These are not just a source of sensuous
pleasure but give us spiritual satisfaction. Discovery of relationship in all things, made
by man or nature, is a spiritual activity. Life without beauty will be spiritually barren.
Such work will be dangerous and immoral. It is interesting to note that in ancient Greek
language, there was the same word for beauty and goodness. I tend to agree with John
Keats who rightly said that beauty is truth and truth beauty.
Correction
(i) In the accident one of my arms was broken and legs bruised.
(ii) The people who had been raising slogans against the government for many hours
wanted increase in their salaries.
(iii) You have been working very hard for the last two years. Haven’t you?
(iv) John could hardly do better than having taught a bass of such dimensions.
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
(v) I, having no chance to meet him, would rather go with you instead of sitting at home.
(vi) He comes there not only for swimming but also for coaching new swimmers.
(vii) When he visited the fair last time, he bought no fewer than twenty school bags.
(viii) Ten cattle were grazing in the field
FILL IN THE BLANKS
(i) I cannot buy this car for this price.
(ii) Send these books to my home address.
(iii) Monkeys live in trees.
(iv) I said it to his face.
(v) The manager acknowledged the receipt of my letter promptly.
(vi) Most foreign students don’t like American coffee, and neither do I.
(vii) We ought to take care of our parents when they are old.
(viii) Yousaf dug in the garden the whole of yesterday.
ANALOGIES
(i) LION : ROAR (b) Goat : Bleat
(ii) SHADOW : LIGHT (b) Image : Object
(iii) CLOT : BLOOD (b) Curdle : Milk
(iv) FEARFUL: COWER (c) Arrogant : Strut
(v) EXPEDITE : HASTEN (c) Facilitate : Make easiest
(vi) WOOD : FURNITURE (d) Stone : Sculpture
(vii) SURGEON : DEXTEROUS (d) Acrobat : Agile
(viii) LECHER : LUST (b) Glutton : Greed
Punctuation
A quaker was one day walking on country road. He was suddenly met by a
highwayman. Pointing a pistol, the man exclaimed, “Your money or your life, my friend!”
Said the quaker: “I cannot deliver my money for I should be helping thee in evildoing;
however; exchange is lawful, and I will give thee my purse for the pistol.” The robber
agreed on receiving the purse. The quaker at once held the pistol at the robber’s head
and said, “Now, friend, my purse back or the weapon may go off fire.” Said the robber,
“There is no powder in the pistol.”

Pairs of Words
WRATH (intense anger): He hid his pipe for fear of incurring his father’s wrath
WROTH (angry): It was plain to see that Ali was now extremely wroth.
VERACITY: (accuracy, truthfulness): Officials expressed doubts concerning the veracity
of the story.
VORACITY (avarice, rapacity): There is a higher thirst and voracity for a variety of
pertinent content.
SUBTLER (elusive, knotty): Graham Taylor’s approach at Watford was far subtler than
the critics portrayed.
SUTLER (victualer, a supplier of victuals or supplies to an army): Essentially a
sutler was a camp follower who sold provisions to the soldiers, part of early logistics.
RETENUE (Restraint, Self-control): She smiled and some of her natural retenue
melted.
RETINUE (Suite, Entourage): And then his retinue of friends arrived, and he floated
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
away.
MINUTE (Extremely small): He will have no more than a minute chance of exercising
influence.
MINUET (A slow, stately ballroom dance): Louie, who dances a shaky minuet if
properly guided, was a shoo-in.
FUROR (fury; rage; madness): The killing was captured on cameras and caused an
Internet furor.
FURORE (frenzy, uproar, commotion, turmoil): He always follows the latest furores.
DINGHY (A small inflatable rubber boat): Take a bulk spool of line and a dinghy with
you on the beach.
DINGY (Gloomy and drab): A dark, dingy little shop that always smelt faintly of
cigarettes.
BONY (Of or like bone): The head contains bony plates with short spines at the tip of
the snout
BONNY (Attractive or beautiful): Aleeha is my niece and a bonny little thing she is.
IDIOMS
Spirit away (to sneak away to another place): The police spirited the prisoner away
before the crowd assembled.
Plough back (to put profits made by a business back into it): All the money we
raise is ploughed back into our work.
Eager beaver (An alert and energetic person): New volunteers are always eager
beavers.
Ring a bell (Sound vaguely familiar): I’ve never met Asad, but his name rings a bell.
Be left holding the baby (Be left with an unwelcome responsibility): Yes, we are
interested in helping, but we don’t want to be left holding the baby.
Cap in hand (Humbly asking for a favour): We have to go cap in hand begging for
funds.
Hold out a carrot (Entice by offering an advantage): The parents held out the carrot
of a new bicycle to make their son study harder.
Over the moon (Extremely happy; delighted): They’re going on holiday; so they’re all
over the moon.
TRANSLATION
In order to be aware of our hidden flaws, it is imperative that we know what our enemies
say about us. It is because our friends often praise us as we want them to and they
either don’t find a fault with our flaws or they do us a heart good and cover up or ignore
them to make us not feel hurt. On the contrary, our enemy keeps fishing for finding our
weaknesses and foibles. Although he tries to make a mountain out of a molehill, yet
there is always some reality in that. A friend always promotes his friend’s goods but an
enemy highlights the flaws. So, we should be more indebted to our enemy because he
makes us aware of our shortcomings. If seen in this context, an enemy is better than a
friend.
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
English Précis & Composition Paper 2016

Written by: editor on March 13, 2016.

Q2. Précis
We visited Qualla Boundary, a town in Cherokee. The mountain scenery surrounding
the town was a breathtaking sight. The traditional lifestyle of the Indians, the tribal crafts
they made and the historical pageant played six times a week, presented to tourists a
rough image of Cherokee in the 18th century. We also visited the souvenir shops which
sold rubber tomahawks and war bonnets. There we befriended a local, George, who
told us that besides trade, the “Bingo Weekend,” where the tourists can enjoy various
kinds of games in a large hall, is another source of income for them during off-tour
seasons. Finally, we visited the town’s museum where different kinds of arts, like hand-
woven baskets and carved figurines are displayed.

Title: A visit to Qualla Boundary

Q.3. Comprehension Paragraph
1. Why most of us fail in our efforts for self-improvement?
Most of us fail in our efforts of self-improvement because our schemes are too
ambitious and we never find time to carry them out.
2. Why is it a basic mistake to announce our resolution to everybody?
It is a mistake because if we don’t accomplish our resolutions, we appear even more
foolish in front of everybody.

3. Why did the writer not carry out his resolution on New Year’s Day?
He could not carry out his resolutions on New Year’s Day because he attended a late
night New Year Party.
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
4. Find out the words in the above passage which convey the similar meaning to
the following:
(1) Intimidating = Formidable
(2) Peril = Pitfall
(3) Dwindle = Diminish
(4) Repel = Fend off
(5) Barb = Jibe
Q.4. (a) Correction of Sentences
(i) We were staying at my sister’s Cape Cod vacation home.
(ii) She recommended that I take a few days off from work.
(iii) I tried to explain the problem to him, but he had difficulty understanding me.
(vi) I don’t know why you didn’t go. If I were you, I would have gone.
(vii) Kevin says he stopped travelling internationally because of his family.
(b) Punctuation
(I) “It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. “Coach Lewis never lets me start the game!”
(ii) Maureen’s three sisters Molly, Shannon, and Patricia, are all spending the summer
at their grandmother’s beach house.
(iii) For the centerpieces, the florist recommended the following flowers: daisies, tulips,
daffodils, and hyacinths.
(iv) Lily is an accomplished gymnast; she won three medals in her last competition.
(v) Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield — a studious, extremely bright high
school senior — decided that college was not for him.
Explanation
1. There should be a quotation mark before the word Coach to set off the dialogue.
2. Commas set off nonrestrictive appositives, phrases that say the same thing as the
previous phrase in different words. (A comma should be placed after Patricia.)
3. A colon can go before a list. (Place a colon after the word flowers.)
4. A semicolon can be used to separate two main clauses that could each stand alone
as complete sentences.
5. Dashes can be used to set off a parenthetical element, for emphasis. (Place another
em dash after the word senior.)
Q.5. (a) Analogy
1. (d) Horror : Fear
2. (a) Reduction : Diminution
3. (b) Inventor : Imaginative
4. (d) Analogy : Comparison
5. (a) Accountant : Meticulous
Q5. (b) Indirect speech in paragraph form
When Helen asked Mr West what had happened to John, Mr West replied that he
(John) had left the company. On Helen’s asking him why he (John) had done that, Mr
West informed her that he (John) had asked him for a rise but he had not given it to him
. Helen asked the reason for not doing so and Mr West blamed John’s laziness for that.
Helen asked if John had found another job and Mr West replied in the affirmative,
saying that he was working in a film company. Helen then asked Mr West about John’s
salary and if he(John) liked the new job. Mr West replied that he thought that he
BISMILLAH HIR RAHMA NIR RA HEEM
(John)earned quite a lot but said he did not know whether he(John) liked his new job or
not.

Q.6. (a) Pairs of Words

(I) Adverse (unfavourable; dreadful), averse (against, hostile to)
Taxes are having an adverse effect on production.
As a former CIA director, he is not averse to secrecy.
(ii) altogether (completely; totally), all together (all at the same time)
I’m not altogether sure that I’d trust him.
It has been a while since I have had a lot of my friends all together in one place.
(iii) Allude (refer to; suggest), elude (evade; escape)
He alluded to the problem but did not mention it.
The thief eluded the police.
(iv) braise (cook in liquid), braze (Solder together by using hard solder with a high
melting point)
The veal with chilli and braised salad was, I must confess, excellent.
A disc is brazed to the cut-off end of the drill shank.
(v) curb (restrain; inhibit), kerb (a stone edging to a pavement or raised path)
Curb your anger.
Traces of the stone kerb can be seen on the east side.
(b) Idioms
(i) Smash hit (a play, movie, musical, etc., that is a big success)
Her first book was a smash hit. The second was a disaster.
(ii) Murphy’s law (Humorous axiom stating that anything that can go wrong will go
wrong)
Damned Murphy’s Law, the year my batch took their ‘A’ Levels, Chinese wasn’t
necessary anymore.
(iii) Place in the Sun (A dominant or favorable position or situation)
The Nobel Laureates really enjoyed their place in the sun.
(iv) Wooden spoon (an imaginary prize given to the person who finishes last in a race
or competition)
For the second year running, Ireland took the wooden spoon in the Rugby tournament.
(v) Go bananas (to go mildly crazy)
I thought he was going to go bananas.
Q7. Translation
Generally, people think that state’s laws and personal freedom are antithetical to each
other. Apparently, it does not look wrong. Every law imposes some curbs on the
citizens. If the laws of a country are a great many, then the civil liberties are curtailed
under their burden. On the contrary, if the laws are limited in number, the citizens enjoy
more freedom.