I.

Read the passage given below and answer the

questions that follow:

Every Sunday morning I take a light jog around a

park near my home. There’s a lake located in one

corner of the park. Each time I jog by this lake, I see

the same elderly woman sitting at the water’s edge

with a small metal cage sitting beside her.

This past Sunday my curiosity got the best of me,

so I stopped jogging and walked over to her. As I

got closer, I realized that the metal cage was, in fact,

a small trap. There were three turtles, unharmed,

slowly walking around the base of the trap. She

had a fourth turtle in her lap that she was carefully

scrubbing with a sponge brush.

“Hello,” I said. “I see you here every Sunday

morning. If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to

know what you’re doing with these turtles.”

She smiled. “I’m cleaning off their shells,” she

replied. “Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or

scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and

impedes its ability to swim. It can also corrode and

weaken the shell over time.”

“Wow! That’s really nice of you!” I exclaimed.

She went on “I spend a couple of hours each Sunday

morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these

little guys out. It’s my strange way of making a

difference.”

“But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole

lives with algae and scum hanging from their

shells?” I asked.

“Yep, sadly, they do,” she replied.

I scratched my head. “Well then, don’t you think

your time could be better spent? I mean, I think

your efforts are kind and all, but freshwater turtles

are living in lakes all around the world. And 99% of

these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help

them clean off their shells. So, no offense… but how

exactly are your localized efforts here truly making a

difference?”

The woman giggled aloud. She then looked down

at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece

of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this

little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the

difference in the world.”

1. Why did the old woman clean turtles?

(1) She wanted to make a difference in the

turtles’ life.

(2) She made herself helpful to the others and

hence making her life meaningful

(3) She loved the turtles and did something to

show her love

(4) She helped turtles to find a purpose in her

life

2. How does the algae hurt the turtles?

(1) It makes them weak

(2) It makes them old

(3) It hinders in the proper functioning of their

body
(4) All of the above

3. What do you understand by nosiness?

(1) Peeping

(2) Inquisitiveness

(3) Helplessness

34 OSWAAL CUET (UG) Sample Question Papers, ENGLISH

(4) Audacity

4. What did the author think of the old lady’s

acts?

(1) Kind but not significant

(2) Sensitive but stupid

(3) Humane but waste of time

(4) Kind but useless

5. Which of the following word is closest to

giggling?

(1) Smirk (2) Frown

(3) Roar (4) Chuckle

II. Read the passage given below and answer the

questions that follow:

Morning and afternoon, all the young girls and

maidens used to gather around the village well with

their water pots. There they exchanged pleasantries,

chatted and discussed. Lakshmi was the prettiest girl

at the well. But, she was an orphan.

One day, a well-built man came to Lakshmi’s house.

He brought with him the richest clothes and jewels

as presents for her, “I am your dead father’s brother,”

he told the astonished girl. “You have not seen me

before because I have been staying abroad. You must

come and live with me now.” Lakshmi believed his

sweet words and in a short time, locked up her little

house and set out with the man.

But a terrible surprise was in store for poor Lakshmi

when she got to her new-found uncle’s home. The

man locked her in a room “I am not your uncle, but

a robber. And I am going to marry you,” he told

her. Lakshmi howled and wept when she heard

this. Saying he would be back in a day or two after

making arrangements for the wedding, the man

went away. Lakshmi continued sobbing for a while

and then stopped. “I must think of a plan to escape,”

she told herself. Lakshmi guessed that the robber

would try to enter her room. So, she kept near her

bed a sharp knife which she could find in the room.

One night the robber did enter her room but Lakshmi

did not make any sound. She just kept a tight hold

of knife and pretended to be sound asleep. When

the robber was near her bed, she stood up suddenly,

brandishing the knife. The robber was taken aback

and with a loud cry, he ran out. Lakshmi gave chase

and he climbed up the nearest tall tree. Lakshmi then

gathered some dry figs and sticks around the foot of

the tree and set them on fire. on seeing the rising

flames, the robber gave a mighty yell and jumped

down. But it was such a long way to the ground that

he broke a couple of bones and was unable to move

away from the place he fell.

In the mean time, the police was informed by

someone about the robber. Very soon they reached

the spot and arrested the robber. The people who

had gathered at the spot were all praise for Lakshmi’s

courage and presence of mind.

6. The reason given by the man for his inability to

meed Lakshmi was that

(1) he had not known earlier where she lived.

(2) he was not friendly terms with her father.

(3) he was living in a foreign country.

(4) he was not sure whether she would

recognise him.

7. Why did Lakshmi go with the man?

(1) She was convinced that the man was her

uncle.

(2) She wanted to accompany him and then

get him arrested by the police.

(3) She intended to teach him a good lesson.

(4) She wanted to marry him.

8. Why did the robber run out of the room?

(1) He was stabbed by Lakshmi.

(2) He got scared of the rising flames.

(3) Lakshmi told him to go out as fast as

possible.

(4) He was afraid that Lakshmi would strike

him with a knife

9. How was the robber injured?

(1) Lakshmi stabbed him with the sharp knife.

(2) He fell down accidently while climbing the

tree.
(3) He was beaten by Lakshmi and his bones

were broken.

(4) He jumped down from the tree to save his

life.

10. “But a terrible surprise was in store... uncle’s home.”

What is the “terrible surprise” that is being

referred to?

(1) The man told her that her father was dead.

(2) The man refused to marry her.

(3) The man took away her ornaments and

locked her in a room.

(4) The man turned out to be a robber

interested in marrying her.

11. Where did the robber apparently go after

locking up Lakshmi?

(1) He went to her house to loot all the things.

(2) He went out to bring a sharp knife.

(3) He went away to bring clothes and jewels

for her.

(4) He went away to make preparations for his

marriage.

12. Which of the following is most nearly the SAME

in meaning as the phrase, GAVE CHASE as used

in the passage?

(1) escaped (2) continued

(3) followed (4) prevented

13. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of

the passage?

(1) Lakshmi told the robber to climb up the tall

tree.

Sample Question Papers 35

(2) At night, the robber entered Lakshmi’s

room with a knife.

(3) Lakshmi had no near relatives and she

stayed alone.

(4) The robber started running after jumping

from the tree.

14. Which of the following is most OPPOSITE in

meaning of the word GATHER as used in the

passage?

(1) Collect (2) Reduce

(3) Distribute (4) Dispense

15. Which of the following statements is NOT

TRUE in the context of the passage?

(1) The police was summoned by Lakshmi

herself

(2) The well-built man was not the real brother

of Lakshmi’s father.

(3) When the robber entered the room at night,

Lakshmi was awake

(4) Lakshmi used to go to the village well to

collect water.

III. Read the passage given below and answer the

questions that follow:

The pandemic has forced schooling to move online,

but the burden of digital inequality has fallen on the

great majority of children who do not have access to

smartphones, let alone laptops, or the internet. But

is there no alternative to virtual classrooms? Several

creative teacher-led initiatives on the ground,

reported in this newspaper, demonstrate that it is

not just desirable but also possible for governments

and communities to design solutions that take the

last child along.

In Karnataka, for instance, the vatara shaale model

of community schooling — using open community

spaces like temples, courtyards and prayer halls

to teach children in small groups, with social

distancing norms in place — began when a group

of government school teachers sought to create

a pandemic classroom that was inclusive. Like in

many other states, only about 30 per cent of children

in the state have digital access. Spliced for other

factors like caste and gender, it throws up a grim

picture — as well as the possibility that children,

especially in the more impoverished parts, would be

sucked into wage labour or child marriage. Similarly,

in Sikkim, a maths teacher’s concern for the students

of her village led her to visit them at their home for

short lessons that ensure they do not fall off the

learning grid. The local administration of a village

in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, has allowed teachers to

broadcast English lessons through loudspeakers.

Both the Sikkim and Karnataka state governments

have responded by absorbing elements of these

innovations in new learning programmes devised to

adapt to the COVID-19 challenge.

Few they might be, but these examples are a

glimmer of hope in an education system that stifles

creativity in both teachers and students. They also

show up the generalisation of the commitment-less,

undertrained government school teacher as a lazy

stereotype. The fact is that schools and teachers exist

in a continuum with local communities, and are

more responsive to their needs than they are given

credit for. Many teachers used the disruption of the

pandemic to come up with solutions that adapted

to their environments and local needs and placed

the concerns of children who might be left behind

at the centre, without being told to by government

circulars.

[Editorial Published in The Indian Express,

dated 26th Aug., 2020]

16. The expression “grim picture” used in the

passage refers to which of the following?

(1) Beautiful picture

(2) Optimistic picture

(3) Unpleasant picture

(4) Elaborate picture

17. Which government of the states have responded

and adapted to innovative ways to tackle the

COVID-19 situation?

(1) Sikkim and Karnataka

(2) Sikkim and Chhattisgarh

(3) Bastar and Sikkim

(4) Chhattisgarh and Kerala

18. Which of the following can be inferred from the

passage?

(1) The government teachers are lazy and

undertrained and are unable to cope with

COVID-19 situation.

(2) Many teachers working in remote areas

are using the disruption of the pandemic

to come up with solutions that adapted to

their environments and local needs.

(3) Most of the students during the pandemic

have good digital access.

(4) Most of the teachers do not have access to

smartphones so they cannot teach students.

19. Which of the following statements weakens

the author’s statement that “The pandemic has

forced schooling to move online”?

(1) The students need to stay at home during

the pandemic and study online.

(2) The students have the choice to opt

between the virtual and face-to-face mode

of classes during the pandemic.

(3) Parents do not have any choice except to

help their children study at home during

the pandemic.

(4) All of the above

36 OSWAAL CUET (UG) Sample Question Papers, ENGLISH

20. As per the Author, what will happen if the

children are not educated during this pandemic

in the remote and poor areas?

(1) The children would force their parents

to purchase smartphones for virtual

education.

(2) The children might be forced into daily

wage jobs.

(3) The children would become lazy and weak.

(4) The children would become less efficient

and less techno savvy.

IV. Read the passage given below and answer the

questions that follow:

After murdering Harry’s parents, James and Lily

Potter, evil Lord Voldemort puts a killing curse on

Harry, then just a baby. The curse inexplicably

reverses, defeating Voldemort and searing a

lightning-bolt scar in the middle of the infant’s

forehead. Harry is then left at the doorstep of his

boring but brutish aunt and uncle, the Dursleys.

For 10 years, Harry lives in the cupboard under the

stairs and is subjected to cruel mistreatment by Aunt

Petunia, Uncle Vernon and their son Dudley. On his

11th birthday, Harry receives a letter inviting him to

study magic at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft

and Wizardry.

Harry discovers that not only is he a wizard, but

also a famous one. He meets two best friends, Ron

Weasley and Hermione Granger, and makes his

first enemy, Draco Malfoy. At Hogwarts the three

friends are all placed into the Gryffindor house.

Harry has a knack for the school sport, Quidditch,

and is recruited into the Gryffindor team as its star

Seeker. Perusing the restricted section in the library,

Harry discovers that the Sorcerer’s Stone produces

the Elixir of Life, which gives its drinker the gift of

immortality. After realizing that Voldemort might be

after the stone, Albus Dumbledore had it moved it to

Hogwarts for safekeeping.

Harry finds out that when she died, Lily Potter

transferred to her son an ancient magical protection

from Voldemort’s lethal spells. This protection is what

allowed Harry as an infant to survive Voldemort’s

attack. It also helps Harry keep Voldemort from

possessing the Stone, which Dumbledore agrees to

destroy.

[Short Story by J.K. Rowling]

21. Which of the following statements weakens the

argument that the evil Lord Voldemort puts a

killing curse on Harry after killing his parents?

(1) The Lord Voldemort wishes to kill Harry.

(2) Harry could not save his parents from the

evil hands of Lord Voldemort

(3) Harry was able to defend him from the

curse of Lord Voldemort as he possesses

magical powers.

(4) None of the above

22. Which of the following can be inferred from the

passage above?

(1) The magical protection of Harry’s mother

protected him from Voldemort’s attack

when he was a baby.

(2) Harry was a famous wizard.

(3) Both (1) and (2)

(4) None of these

23. The lines, “Harry has a knack for the school

sport”, mean-

(1) Harry was skilled in the school sport.

(2) Harry was unskilled in the school sport.

(3) Harry wanted to learn the school sport.

(4) Harry did not like the school sport.

24. Which of the following is an implicit assumption

in the discovery that the Sorcerer’s Stone

produces the Elixir of Life, which gives its

drinker the gift of immortality?

I. A person who wishes to be immortal can

drink the Elixir of Life produced by the

Sorcerer’s stone.

II. The Sorcerer’s Stone can produce the cure

for all.

III. One can die after drinking the Elixir of Life

produced by the Sorcerer’s stone.

IV. The Sorcerer’s Stone is just a common stone

having no powers at all.

(1) Only I and II (2) Only III and IV

(3) I and IV (4) I, II, III and IV.

25. How did Harry come to know that the Sorcerer’s

Stone produces the Elixir of Life, which gives its

drinker the gift of immortality?

(1) His friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione

Granger tell him about it.

(2) Albus Dumbledore told him about it.

(3) James and Lily Potter told him about it

when he was young.

(4) He came to know about it while going

through the restricted section of the library.

26. The antonym of: GRACEFUL

(1) Rough (2) Expert

(3) Miserable (4) Awkward

27. Choose the correctly spelt word

(1) Schedule (2) Schdule

(3) Schedale (4) Schedeule

28. The meaning of the idiom “The pot calling the kettle

black.”

(1)Both being guilty of the same mistake.

(2) A person accusing another of being black.

(3) A person blaming another for something he has

not done.

(4) Someone criticizing another for a fault which he

himself has.

Direction: Rearrange the words and phrases given

below to form meaningful sentences.

29. have / obesity / changing lifestyles / among /

contributed / to / children.

(1) Changing lifestyles have contributed to obesity

among children.

(2) Obesity among children have contributed to

changing lifestyle.

(3) Have contributed changing lifestyles to obesity

among children.

(4) No correction is required.

30. fast foods / their / making / children / are / staple

diet.

(1) Children are making fast foods their staple diet.

(2) Fast food are making children their staple diet.

(3) Their staple diet are making children fast food.

(4) No correction required.

(1)

1-Option (2) is correct.

Explanation: In the passage, when the author
asked the woman how the cleaning of the turtles
is making a difference. She said, “Sweetie, if this
little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all
the difference in the world.”
2. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: In the passage, it is mentioned that
“anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum,
reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and
impedes its ability to swim. It can also corrode
and weaken the shell over time. Therefore,
the algae on turtles’ shells hinders the proper
functioning of their body.
3. Option (2) is correct.
Explanation: In this passage, the author asked the
old lady a question and also asked to excuse her
for her nosiness. Here, by nosiness, she meant the
curiosity, inquisitiveness to ask and know more
about the lady’s actions and the purpose behind
it.
4. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: In the passage, the author considered
the lady’s actions kind and thoughtful but at the
same time, didn’t think it was significant enough
to make a difference.
5. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: Although, both smirk and chuckle
related to smiling but smirk is less of a smile in
a silly way whereas chuckle is kind of laughing
which is closer to giggling.
6. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: It is mentioned in the second
paragraph of the passage that the built man
brought with him the richest clothes and jewels
for her and said ‘I am your dead father’s brother’
“You have not seen me before because I have been
staying abroad. You must come and live with me
now.”
7. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: It is mentioned in the passage that
Lakshmi believed his sweet words and in a short
time, locked up her little house and set out with
the man.
8. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: The robber was shocked and was
scared that Lakshmi might hit him by the knife
she had.
9. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: The robber got scared of the rising
flames and jumped down. But in the process he
broke a couple of his bones.
10. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: As soon as Lakshmi reached his newuncle house, the man locked her in a room and
told her that he was not his uncle but a robber
instead who planned on marrying him.
11. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: It is mentioned in the third
paragraph of the passage that the robber after
locking her in a room told her that he was not her
uncle and planned on marrying her. He informed
her that he would be back in a day or two after
making arrangements for the wedding.
12. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: The phrase ‘give chase’ means to
follow someone quickly in order to catch them.
13. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: On the basis of passage, it can be
inferred that not only Lakshmi was an orphan but
had no near relatives either.
76 OSWAAL CUET (UG) Sample Question Papers, ENGLISH
14. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: To gather means to collect things
while distribute means to give or share out.
15. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: The opening lines of the last
paragraph of the passage mentioned that the
police was informed by someone else about the
robber and not Lakshmi.
16. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: As per the passage “grim picture”
means “unpleasant picture” or “sad picture” as
given in the option (3) which is the correct answer
here.
17. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: The concluding lines of the
2nd paragraph of the passage state that the
government of the states of Sikkim and Karnataka
have responded and adapted to innovative ways
to tackle the COVID-19 situation.
18. Option (2) is correct.
Explanation: The concluding lines of the last
paragraph of the passage state that many teachers
working in remote areas are using the disruption
of the pandemic to come up with solutions that
adapted to their environments and local needs.
19. Option (2) is correct.
Explanation: As per the statement of the author
here, only the option (2) goes against it and
weakens the argument that the forced form of
online classes during the pandemic and says that
“The students have the choice to opt between the
virtual and face-to-face mode of classes during
the pandemic”.
20. Option (2) is correct.
Explanation: The second paragraph of the
passage state that happens if the children are not
educated during this pandemic in the remote and
poor areas then the children might be forced into
daily wage jobs.
21. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: The statement given in the option
(3) weakens the argument of the author by stating
that “Harry was able to defend him from the
curse of Lord Voldemort as he possesses magical
powers” which is not true. So, the option (3) is the
correct answer here.
22. Option (3) is correct.
Explanation: The statement given in the option (1)
finds its mention in the opening lines of the last
paragraph of the passage. The statement given
in the option (2) finds its mention in the opening
lines of the second paragraph of the passage.
23. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: The 3rd line of the second paragraph
of the passage states that Harry was skilled in the
sport, Quidditch, so he was chosen and recruited
into the Gryffindor team as its star Seeker to play
the game.
24. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: Both the statements given in
the options I and II are in the favour of the
assumption mentioned here and indirectly mean
the same as mentioned that “the Sorcerer’s Stone
produces the Elixir of Life, which gives its drinker
the gift of immortality”. Hence, the option (1) is
the correct answer here that comprises both the
statements I and II.
25. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: It is mentioned in the second
paragraph of the passage that “Perusing the
restricted section in the library, Harry discovers
that the Sorcerer’s Stone produces the Elixir of
Life”.
26. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: To be graceful is to be elegant while
being awkward is to be unpleasant.
27. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: Schedule is referred to a planned
routine. Rest of the words does not have any
meaning.
Solutions 77
28. Option (4) is correct.
Explanation: The idiom ‘The pot calling the kettle
black’ is used when one himself at fault criticizes
another for the same.
29. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: Only the arrangement in Option (1)
forms a meaningful sentence.
30. Option (1) is correct.
Explanation: Only the arrangement in Option (1)
forms a meaningful sentence.