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RBSE SS English Comp study materials
RBSE SS English Comp study resources

RBSE SS English Comp practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

A passage states: 'The old bridge groaned under the weight of the truck.' What does 'groaned' most clearly suggest about the bridge in this line from an unseen passage?

  1. It collapsed suddenly into the river
  2. It was freshly painted that morning
  3. It was completely silent as the truck passed
  4. It made a low creaking sound under strain Correct answer.

Explanation

The verb 'groaned' is a personification that transfers a human sound of discomfort to an object, implying a low creaking noise produced by strain. The surrounding phrase 'under the weight' confirms pressure rather than collapse or silence.

Question 2Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, a writer says a character 'arrived at the station at dawn, clutching a single ticket.' Which inference about the character is best supported?

  1. The character has very little with them and is anxious Correct answer.
  2. The character owns the station
  3. The character has missed the train
  4. The character is travelling with heavy luggage

Explanation

'A single ticket' and 'clutching' together suggest minimal belongings plus a nervous grip, which supports the idea of little luggage and some anxiety. The passage gives no evidence of ownership or of a missed train.

Question 3Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage opens: 'The market was a sea of noise, colour and elbows.' Which technique is mainly used in this description?

  1. Alliteration
  2. Simile
  3. Metaphor Correct answer.
  4. Onomatopoeia

Explanation

The market is directly called 'a sea', an implied comparison without 'like' or 'as', which is the definition of metaphor. Simile would need an explicit comparing word, and the other devices are absent.

Question 4Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, the sentence 'The results were surprising, however, they were not conclusive' is best revised as which of the following?

  1. The results were surprising, however; they were not conclusive
  2. The results were surprising however, they were not conclusive
  3. The results were surprising however they were not conclusive
  4. The results were surprising; however, they were not conclusive Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' here joins two independent clauses as a conjunctive adverb, so a semicolon precedes it and a comma follows it. This punctuation correctly separates the two complete statements.

Question 5Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage describes a village 'where every face was known and every door unlocked.' What contrast does the writer most likely intend with the wider world?

  1. The village is close-knit and trusting, unlike more anonymous places Correct answer.
  2. The village is isolated from all visitors
  3. The village has no crime because it has no police
  4. The village is wealthier than the city

Explanation

Known faces and unlocked doors together convey familiarity and trust within a small community. The implied contrast is with larger, more anonymous settings where people do not know or trust neighbours in the same way.

Question 6Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

Read this line from an unseen passage: 'She spoke softly, yet her words cut through the argument like a blade.' What is the main effect of the comparison?

  1. It suggests she was holding a knife during the argument
  2. It indicates she shouted to be heard
  3. It shows her voice was physically quiet but her point was decisive Correct answer.
  4. It proves the argument was about weapons

Explanation

The simile 'like a blade' conveys sharpness and decisiveness, while 'softly' supplies the quiet delivery. The contrast produces the effect of a gentle voice making a cutting, effective point.

Question 7Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage contains the sentence: 'Having finished the exam, the corridor felt strangely quiet to Ravi.' What is the grammatical problem in this sentence?

  1. The word 'strangely' is an adjective used as a verb
  2. The tense shifts incorrectly within the sentence
  3. The sentence lacks a main clause
  4. The introductory participle phrase wrongly attaches to 'the corridor' Correct answer.

Explanation

The opening participle phrase 'Having finished the exam' should describe the person who finished, but the main clause makes 'the corridor' its subject, creating a dangling modifier. Rewriting as 'Having finished the exam, Ravi found the corridor strangely quiet' repairs it.

Question 8Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, a narrator remarks: 'Of course, nobody thought to check the lock.' What does this aside most strongly imply?

  1. The lock was already broken before the story began
  2. The narrator is praising the characters' careful planning
  3. The narrator knows the oversight will matter later Correct answer.
  4. The characters had no reason to be in the building

Explanation

The phrase 'of course' signals retrospective irony: the narrator, looking back, highlights an oversight the characters failed to notice. Such asides typically foreshadow consequences the reader should anticipate.

Question 9Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage uses the word 'frugal' to describe a family's habits. Which meaning fits best in a passage about household spending?

  1. Generous to strangers
  2. Wasteful and extravagant
  3. Careful and economical Correct answer.
  4. Careless about money

Explanation

'Frugal' means sparing and economical, especially with money or resources, so in a passage about household spending it signals careful management. It carries no suggestion of waste or carelessness.

Question 10Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage reports: 'The committee's decision was unanimous.' Which restatement keeps the meaning of the sentence?

  1. Every member of the committee agreed on the decision Correct answer.
  2. The committee delayed its decision
  3. The committee disagreed about the decision
  4. Most members of the committee agreed on the decision

Explanation

'Unanimous' means all parties are of one mind, so every member agreed. A restatement must preserve that totality of agreement.

Question 11Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage begins: 'First the rain came, then the roof leaked, and finally the ceiling fell.' What is the main function of the sequence words in this sentence?

  1. To describe the colour of the ceiling
  2. To stress the order in which events happened Correct answer.
  3. To compare the rain with the roof
  4. To show that the events were unrelated

Explanation

'First', 'then' and 'finally' are sequence markers that organise events chronologically. They show the reader the order of a chain of consequences.

Question 12Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage describes a scientist who 'recorded every result, even the ones that embarrassed her.' Which quality does this detail chiefly reveal?

  1. Her reluctance to publish
  2. Her fear of failure
  3. Her intellectual honesty Correct answer.
  4. Her dislike of colleagues

Explanation

Recording results that are embarrassing shows a commitment to accuracy over reputation, which is intellectual honesty. The detail concerns integrity in reporting, not timidity or personal dislike.

Question 13Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, the writer states: 'The town council met for six hours, but the minutes ran to only two pages.' What does the contrast most likely suggest?

  1. The meeting produced few formal decisions despite its length Correct answer.
  2. The minutes were written before the meeting
  3. The town council always keeps long minutes
  4. The meeting ended after two hours

Explanation

A long meeting with very short minutes implies that little of substance was formally decided or recorded. The contrast between duration and documented outcome carries the point.

Question 14Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage includes the sentence: 'The teacher, along with the students, was waiting outside.' Which explanation of the verb form is correct?

  1. 'Was' is correct because the subject is 'the teacher' Correct answer.
  2. 'Was' should be 'were' because 'along with' creates a compound subject
  3. 'Was' is correct because 'students' is plural
  4. 'Was' should be 'were' because two groups are mentioned

Explanation

Phrases such as 'along with' are parenthetical and do not change the grammatical subject, which remains the singular 'teacher'. The verb therefore stays singular as 'was'.

Question 15Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage ends with the line: 'The gate swung shut, and the garden kept its secrets.' What is the effect of the final clause?

  1. It creates a mysterious, slightly ominous closing mood Correct answer.
  2. It resolves the plot with a clear explanation
  3. It states a factual detail about gardening
  4. It introduces a new character

Explanation

Personifying the garden as something that 'keeps secrets' leaves the reader with withheld knowledge and a faintly ominous atmosphere. Endings of this kind deliberately avoid full explanation.

Question 16Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage states: 'The scheme was cheap, quick and, as it turned out, catastrophic.' What does the placement of 'as it turned out' achieve?

  1. It lists a third advantage of the scheme
  2. It signals a shift from apparent advantages to a real outcome Correct answer.
  3. It repeats the idea of cheapness
  4. It tells the reader the scheme was never attempted

Explanation

The phrase interrupts the list of benefits to introduce hindsight and contrast, moving the reader from surface advantages to the actual disastrous result. It is a pivot rather than an additional merit.

Question 17Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, a character says: 'I would rather be a fool in your eyes than a stranger to myself.' Which reading best captures the statement?

  1. The speaker is asking for forgiveness
  2. The speaker feels unknown to everyone
  3. The speaker wants to be admired as a fool
  4. The speaker values self-knowledge over others' approval Correct answer.

Explanation

The antithesis sets external judgement ('in your eyes') against inner integrity ('a stranger to myself'). The speaker prefers losing others' good opinion to losing self-understanding.

Question 18Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage notes that a policy was 'popular but unworkable, praised by many and understood by few.' Which feature of style is most evident here?

  1. Direct quotation
  2. Chronological narration
  3. Technical jargon
  4. Balanced antithesis Correct answer.

Explanation

The two paired contrasts ('popular but unworkable', 'praised by many and understood by few') balance opposing ideas in parallel structures, which is antithesis. The effect is ironic emphasis on the policy's weakness.

Question 19Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage contains: 'Not until the final whistle did the crowd rise.' What is the effect of beginning with 'Not until'?

  1. It makes the crowd the grammatical subject of the verb 'rise'
  2. It turns the sentence into a question
  3. It delays the main action and emphasises the timing Correct answer.
  4. It shows the crowd never rose

Explanation

Fronting a negative adverbial triggers inversion ('did the crowd rise') and postpones the main event, throwing emphasis onto the moment of the final whistle. The crowd did rise, but only then.

Question 20Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage describes two brothers: one 'counted every coin', the other 'gave his coat to a shivering stranger.' What contrast is being drawn?

  1. Caution with money versus open-handed generosity Correct answer.
  2. Physical strength versus weakness
  3. Age versus youth
  4. Loyalty to family versus loyalty to friends

Explanation

Counting coins suggests careful, perhaps guarded, handling of money, while giving away a coat shows spontaneous generosity. The paired details set thrift against open-handedness.

Question 21Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says: 'The instructions were clear; the execution was another matter.' What does 'another matter' mean here?

  1. A written document
  2. An unimportant detail
  3. A separate and more difficult issue Correct answer.
  4. A legal case

Explanation

The idiom 'another matter' signals a distinct issue, usually a harder one, contrasting with what was just mentioned. Here it contrasts easy-to-follow instructions with difficult execution.

Question 22Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage reports: 'The mayor promised action; the council promised a review; the residents promised nothing.' What is the effect of the third clause?

  1. It creates a wry contrast by breaking the pattern of promises Correct answer.
  2. It shows the residents were angry
  3. It proves the residents had no opinions
  4. It repeats the council's promise

Explanation

Three parallel clauses set up an expectation of another promise, and the third delivers 'nothing', producing dry irony about residents' scepticism. The surprise lies in the broken pattern.

Question 23Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, the phrase 'a deafening silence' is used after a question is asked in a meeting. What does the phrase convey?

  1. Nobody had asked a question
  2. The room was too noisy to hear
  3. The silence was tense and deeply noticeable Correct answer.
  4. The meeting had already ended

Explanation

'Deafening silence' is an oxymoron: silence cannot literally deafen, so the phrase conveys a tense, highly noticeable absence of response. It stresses awkwardness rather than volume.

Question 24Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says a witness's account was 'corroborated by two other people.' What does this mean?

  1. It was supported by independent evidence Correct answer.
  2. It was kept secret from the public
  3. It was written down by two people
  4. It was rejected as false

Explanation

To corroborate is to strengthen a claim with additional supporting evidence, so the account gained support from two others. It does not mean rejection, transcription, or concealment.

Question 25Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage presents a claim, then writes: 'Yet the evidence for this view is thinner than its supporters admit.' What is the writer's attitude toward the claim?

  1. Wholehearted endorsement
  2. Complete indifference
  3. Amused celebration
  4. Cautious scepticism Correct answer.

Explanation

'Yet' signals contrast, and calling the evidence 'thinner than its supporters admit' challenges the claim's basis without dismissing it outright. That stance is cautious scepticism.

Question 26Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage describes a village elder as 'a man of few words whose silences carried more weight than the speeches of others.' Which quality does the passage most emphasise in him?

  1. The confusion of his thinking
  2. The persuasive force of his restraint Correct answer.
  3. The bitterness of his opinions
  4. The speed of his decisions

Explanation

The comparison weighs his silences against other people's speeches and finds the silences heavier, so the passage values the authority of his restraint. Nothing suggests bad temper, muddled ideas, or quick judgement. The contrast is between speech and silence, not between opinions.

Question 27Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage reports: 'The factory closed in March; by June the high street had lost its bakery, its bank and its bookshop.' Which conclusion does the sequence of events most support?

  1. The bank moved to larger premises elsewhere in June
  2. The town's shops were already failing before March
  3. The closure of the factory affected the wider local economy Correct answer.
  4. The bakery was the most profitable business in town

Explanation

The passage places the factory closure first and the loss of three shops second, inviting the reader to connect the two. The cumulative list of bakery, bank and bookshop signals a knock-on effect across the town. No detail supports pre-existing decline, relative profit, or a relocation.

Question 28Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says of a new manager: 'He arrived with a plan for everything and a question for nothing.' What does the sentence suggest about him?

  1. He was unsure and asked too many questions
  2. He was confident but unwilling to consult others Correct answer.
  3. He was popular because he planned carefully
  4. He was well prepared and open to advice

Explanation

The parallel structure sets 'a plan for everything' against 'a question for nothing', producing an ironic contrast. The effect is to suggest overconfidence combined with a refusal to seek others' views. Openness, uncertainty, and popularity all contradict the irony.

Question 29Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage contains the sentence: 'The river, swollen by three days of rain, tore away the bridge.' Which element of the sentence is the main verb?

  1. rain
  2. swollen
  3. tore Correct answer.
  4. bridge

Explanation

The finite verb carrying the main action of the sentence is 'tore', with 'the river' as its subject. 'Swollen' is a participle inside a descriptive phrase set off by commas. 'Rain' and 'bridge' are nouns inside prepositional or object phrases.

Question 30Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage states: 'The museum's most valuable painting hangs in a room that few visitors find.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. The painting is seen by fewer people than its worth suggests Correct answer.
  2. The painting is not actually valuable
  3. Visitors prefer the museum's cheaper exhibits
  4. The room is deliberately hidden from the public

Explanation

The sentence contrasts high value with low visibility, so the supported inference is a mismatch between worth and the number of viewers. The wording tells us the room is hard to find, not that this is intentional. Nothing is said about the painting's real value or visitors' preferences.

Question 31Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

In an unseen passage, a paragraph ends: 'The cheque was signed, sealed and, everyone later agreed, entirely forgotten.' What is the effect of ending with 'entirely forgotten'?

  1. It creates an anticlimactic twist that undermines the formal list Correct answer.
  2. It slows the pace to describe the sealing of the envelope
  3. It shows that the characters distrusted each other
  4. It confirms that the payment was properly completed

Explanation

The first two items build an expectation of a completed, formal transaction, and the final phrase reverses that expectation. The effect is an anticlimactic twist produced by the flat adverb 'entirely'. The ending does not confirm completion, show distrust, or merely slow the pace.

Question 32Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage uses the word 'austere' to describe a room containing a bed, a chair and a bare window. Which meaning fits best?

  1. Severely plain Correct answer.
  2. Comfortably furnished
  3. Crowded and untidy
  4. Brightly decorated

Explanation

The listed contents are minimal and unadorned, so 'austere' here means severely plain or without ornament. Context is the key: the bare window and the absence of extras rule out decoration and comfort. Crowding is the opposite of what is described.

Question 33Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says: 'Critics called the novel daring; readers called it dull; the author called it finished.' What does the final clause most strongly imply about the author?

  1. He had given up on the book
  2. He was detached from the dispute about its quality Correct answer.
  3. He planned to revise it after the reviews
  4. He agreed with the critics

Explanation

The three-part structure contrasts two opposing judgements with the author's flat statement that the work is done. By declining to enter the argument about quality, the author appears detached from it. He neither agrees with the critics nor abandons the book, and revision is not suggested.

Question 34Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage contains the sentence: 'Walking home, the rain soaked Maya to the skin.' What is the grammatical problem with this sentence?

  1. 'To the skin' is a redundant phrase
  2. The opening participle appears to modify 'the rain' Correct answer.
  3. 'Soaked' should be an intransitive verb here
  4. The tense shifts from past to present

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence should modify the subject of the main clause. Here the subject is 'the rain', so the sentence literally makes the rain walk home, a dangling modifier. The tense is consistently past, and the other two objections do not describe grammatical faults.

Question 35Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says a witness's statement was 'borne out by the phone records.' What does this mean?

  1. The statement was recorded by the phone company
  2. The statement was contradicted by the records
  3. The statement was confirmed by the records Correct answer.
  4. The statement was made under pressure

Explanation

The idiom 'borne out' means supported or confirmed by evidence. Here the phone records act as the confirming evidence for the witness's statement. It does not mean contradiction, coercion, or that the statement itself was recorded.

Question 36Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage reports: 'The council approved the plan in principle, subject to a review of costs, pending consultation with residents, and conditional on funding.' What does the sentence mainly convey about the approval?

  1. It is unconditional and immediate
  2. It is heavily qualified by several conditions Correct answer.
  3. It depends only on the level of funding
  4. It has been withdrawn by the council

Explanation

The sentence stacks three limiting phrases onto the approval: a cost review, consultation, and funding. The cumulative effect is that the approval is heavily qualified rather than final. It is not withdrawn, and funding is only one of several conditions.

Question 37Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage describes a politician who 'never missed a photo opportunity and never attended a committee meeting.' Which technique is the writer mainly using?

  1. Statistical evidence to prove a claim
  2. Balanced clauses to expose a contrast in priorities Correct answer.
  3. A simile to compare the politician with a photographer
  4. Direct quotation to reveal the politician's own words

Explanation

Two parallel clauses with 'never' set public visibility against neglected duty, and the balanced structure sharpens the contrast. The writer offers no quotation, no statistics, and no simile. The repetition of 'never' makes the implied criticism pointed.

Question 38Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage opens: 'The letter lay unopened for a week.' Which detail would best support a reading that the recipient was anxious rather than indifferent?

  1. The recipient received many letters each day
  2. The recipient glanced at the envelope each morning and turned away Correct answer.
  3. The recipient was away on a long holiday
  4. The recipient had forgotten who had sent it

Explanation

Anxiety is best supported by behaviour that combines attention with avoidance, such as looking at the letter and turning away. This shows the recipient is not indifferent but reluctant to engage. Absence, forgetfulness, and a large postbag would all suggest indifference or mere delay.

Question 39Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage says: 'The scheme was cheap, quick and, as it turned out, catastrophic.' What does the parenthetical phrase 'as it turned out' signal?

  1. The writer is describing the scheme's cost
  2. The writer is uncertain whether the scheme existed
  3. The writer is judging the outcome with hindsight Correct answer.
  4. The writer is quoting an official report

Explanation

The phrase marks a shift from what was planned to what was later discovered, so the writer is judging the result in hindsight. It introduces an outcome the planners did not foresee. It does not quote an official source, question the scheme's existence, or describe its cost.

Question 40Reading Comprehension (unseen passages)

An unseen passage contains: 'The report was praised by many and read by few.' Which feature of the sentence carries its critical meaning?

  1. The parallel structure contrasting praise with readership Correct answer.
  2. The passive voice in both clauses
  3. The past tense of both verbs
  4. The use of 'many' before 'few'

Explanation

The two passive clauses are balanced in form, and their contrast between 'praised by many' and 'read by few' exposes the shallowness of the praise. The criticism comes from the parallel contrast, not from the passive voice or tense. Word order alone does not create the irony.

Question 41Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

In the writing section of the RBSE Senior Secondary English paper, a formal letter to a newspaper editor should open with which salutation?

  1. Dear Sir/Madam Correct answer.
  2. Respected friend
  3. Hello Mr Sharma
  4. Hi Editor

Explanation

Formal letters addressed to an unknown or official recipient use 'Dear Sir/Madam' (or 'Dear Sir' / 'Dear Madam'), followed by a comma. This neutral salutation suits a newspaper editor whose name the writer does not know, and it signals the formal register expected in the examination.

Question 42Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

Which closing is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint written in the RBSE examination?

  1. Love and hugs
  2. Bye for now
  3. Yours faithfully Correct answer.
  4. See you soon

Explanation

A formal letter that begins with 'Dear Sir/Madam' conventionally ends with 'Yours faithfully', and one beginning with a named person ends with 'Yours sincerely'. The other choices are personal or conversational sign-offs that break the formal register of a complaint letter.

Question 43Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

A student is asked to write a report on the annual function of a school for the RBSE paper. Which element must appear at the very beginning of the report, before the body?

  1. A dialogue between two teachers
  2. A long personal opinion paragraph
  3. A list of all invitees' phone numbers
  4. A title, the reporter's name and the date Correct answer.

Explanation

A report opens with a heading that names the event, followed by the reporter's name and the date or place of reporting, so the reader knows what is being described and by whom. The body then presents facts in a clear, objective order.

Question 44Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

Which sentence would make the most effective topic sentence for a paragraph on the benefits of morning walks?

  1. Morning walks, which my uncle took in 1985 when he lived near a canal, were different then.
  2. Many people in my colony own dogs of different breeds and sizes.
  3. The walk was long, and then we ate breakfast and then we talked for a while.
  4. A regular morning walk strengthens the heart, calms the mind and improves daily energy. Correct answer.

Explanation

A topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph in a single, broad claim that the following sentences can support. This option names three benefits, giving the writer clear points to develop in the body.

Question 45Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

In a paragraph, what is the main function of supporting sentences?

  1. To give reasons, examples or details that develop the main idea Correct answer.
  2. To list the writer's references and bibliography
  3. To repeat the topic sentence word for word
  4. To introduce a completely new topic for the next paragraph

Explanation

Supporting sentences follow the topic sentence and supply evidence, illustrations or explanation that make the main idea convincing. They must stay on the same controlling idea rather than introduce fresh subjects.

Question 46Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

Which linking word best fills the blank in this sentence from an essay: 'The scheme was expensive; ___, it benefited thousands of villagers.'

  1. therefore
  2. however Correct answer.
  3. besides
  4. moreover

Explanation

The semicolon joins two clauses that contrast in sense: high cost against wide benefit. 'However' signals that contrast, so the sentence reads logically as a concession followed by a positive outcome.

Question 47Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

Which of these is the correct way to address an envelope for a formal letter in the RBSE writing task?

  1. The Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Ajmer Correct answer.
  2. To my dear principal sir, school
  3. Dear Principal, please read this, Ajmer
  4. Principal, come to the point, Ajmer

Explanation

An envelope address gives the recipient's designation or name first, then the institution, then the town, without any greeting or message. It is a set of address lines, not a sentence addressed to the reader.

Question 48Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

In an essay introduction for the RBSE examination, which approach best prepares the reader?

  1. State the topic clearly and indicate the line of argument that will follow Correct answer.
  2. Present the full conclusion and all statistics in the first sentence
  3. Begin with an unrelated joke to relax the examiner
  4. List every point in a numbered table before writing

Explanation

An introduction introduces the subject and signals the direction of the essay, giving the reader a map of what follows. The detailed evidence and the final judgement are reserved for the body and conclusion.

Question 49Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

A notice for the school noticeboard announces an inter-house debate. Which detail is essential for readers to act on the notice?

  1. The date, time and venue of the debate Correct answer.
  2. The colour of the auditorium curtains
  3. The principal's favourite subject at school
  4. The number of pages in the school magazine

Explanation

A notice must tell readers what is happening and the practical details they need: date, time and place, along with whom to contact. Decorative or unrelated facts do not help anyone attend or prepare.

Question 50Writing Skills (letters, reports, paragraphs, essays)

Read this paragraph opening: 'Plastic waste chokes drains, kills stray animals and enters the food chain. It is cheap, light and convenient. Banning it outright would hurt small shopkeepers.' Which comment best describes the paragraph's organisation?

  1. It gives only statistics in ascending order of importance
  2. It narrates a single event in chronological order
  3. It presents problems, then an advantage, then a counter-consideration Correct answer.
  4. It compares two countries using a point-by-point structure

Explanation

The sentences move from harmful effects of plastic to its practical benefits and then to a difficulty with an outright ban. This is a balanced discussion that weighs drawbacks against advantages and a counter-argument.