CUET 2025 (23 May) English Question Paper With Solutions

Time Allowed :1 Hour Maximum Marks :250 Total Questions :50

General Instructions
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:

1. The test is of 1 hour duration.

2. The question paper consists of 50 questions. The maximum marks are 250.

3. 5 marks are awarded for every correct answer, and 1 mark is deducted for every
wrong answer.

1. Choose the correct meaning of the word transient:

(A) Permanent
(B) Short-lived
(C) Unusual
(D) Transparent

Correct Answer: (B) Short-lived

Solution: he word transient describes something that is temporary, fleeting, or lasting only a
short time. For example, a transient storm passes quickly. Option (B) short-lived directly
captures this sense of brief duration. Option (A) permanent is an antonym, as it implies
something lasting indefinitely. Option (C) unusual refers to something rare or uncommon but
does not inherently suggest temporariness. Option (D) transparent relates to clarity or
see-through quality, which is unrelated to duration. Thus, (B) is the most accurate meaning,
aligning with both literal (e.g., a transient visitor) and figurative (e.g., transient emotions)
uses of the word.

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 Quick Tip
To understand transient, picture something fleeting, like a guest staying briefly at a hotel.
Test options by substituting them in a sentence (e.g., The transient moment passed) to
confirm which matches the sense of brevity. Eliminate antonyms like permanent first.

2. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error:

Neither the manager nor the employees has submitted their reports yet.
(A) Neither the manager
(B) nor the employees
(C) has submitted
(D) their reports yet

Correct Answer: (C) has submitted

Solution: The sentence involves a compound subject joined by neither...nor, where the verb
agrees with the closest subject. Here, the employees is the closest subject to the verb and is
plural, requiring a plural verb (have submitted). Option (C) has submitted is incorrect
because has is singular. Options (A) and (B) are grammatically correct as parts of the
compound subject. Option (D) their reports yet is appropriate, as their agrees with the plural
employees, and yet correctly modifies the timing. The corrected sentence is: Neither the
manager nor the employees have submitted their reports yet. Note that the pronoun their in
(D) is acceptable in standard English when referring to a mixed singular/plural compound
subject for inclusivity.

Quick Tip
For neither...nor or either...or, the verb agrees with the closest subject. Identify the
subject closest to the verb and check its number (singular/plural). If unsure, test the
sentence with each subject alone (e.g., The employees have submitted).

3. The student was very tired, yet he to complete the assignment on time.

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(A) failed
(B) managed
(C) refused
(D) ignored

Correct Answer: (B) managed

Solution: The conjunction yet indicates a contrast between the student’s tiredness (a
challenge) and an unexpected or positive outcome. Option (B) managed fits perfectly, as it
means the student succeeded in completing the assignment despite the difficulty, aligning
with the contrast implied by yet. Option (A) failed contradicts the expected positive
outcome, as it suggests the student did not complete the assignment. Option (C) refused
implies a deliberate choice not to do the work, which doesn’t fit the context of effort. Option
(D) ignored suggests neglecting the assignment entirely, which also contradicts the idea of
completion. The complete sentence, The student was very tired, yet he managed to complete
the assignment on time, conveys determination and success.

Quick Tip
When yet signals a contrast, expect an outcome opposite to the initial condition (e.g.,
tiredness suggests failure, but the answer implies success). Test options by imagining
the full sentence and checking if the word fits the contrasting logic.

4. Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to: benevolent

(A) Generous
(B) Kind
(C) Cruel
(D) Helpful

Correct Answer: (C) Cruel

Solution: Benevolent describes someone or something characterized by kindness,

generosity, or a desire to do good, often in a selfless way (e.g., a benevolent leader). The

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opposite would describe someone who causes harm or acts with malice. Option (C) cruel,
meaning deliberately causing pain or suffering, is the direct antonym. Options (A) generous
and (B) kind are synonyms of benevolent, as they share similar positive connotations. Option
(D) helpful is also a positive trait related to benevolence, not its opposite. Testing in context
(e.g., A benevolent act helps others; a cruel act harms them) confirms (C) as the correct
antonym.

Quick Tip
For antonyms, visualize the word’s meaning (e.g., a benevolent person is kind). Choose
the option that represents the opposite behavior or quality (e.g., cruelty vs. kindness).
Eliminate synonyms first and test the remaining options in a sentence.

5. Parts:
P: can offer meaningful solutions
Q: When examined carefully, even complex issues
R: rather than quick fixes
S: that address the root cause
Choose the correct order: (A) QPSR
(B) QRPS
(C) QPRS
(D) QSRP

Correct Answer: (A) QPSR

Solution: To form a coherent sentence, we need a logical sequence that connects the ideas
smoothly. Start with Q, which sets the context by introducing complex issues and the
condition of careful examination. Next, P logically follows as it describes the
outcome—offering meaningful solutions. S then specifies the nature of these solutions, using
that to connect directly to solutions and describe them as addressing the root cause. Finally,
R contrasts these solutions with quick fixes, using rather than to complete the thought. The
resulting sentence is: When examined carefully, even complex issues can offer meaningful

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solutions that address the root cause rather than quick fixes. This order ensures grammatical
correctness and a clear, persuasive flow.

Quick Tip
To solve sentence arrangement questions, identify the introductory clause (often a con-
dition or context) first, then look for connectors like that or rather than to link actions,
descriptions, and contrasts. Test the sentence by reading it aloud to ensure it flows nat-
urally.

6. Parts:
P: have adopted hybrid working models
Q: after the COVID-19 pandemic
R: many organizations
S: blending remote and office work
Choose the correct order:
(A) RQPS
(B) QRSP
(C) PQRS
(D) RPQS

Correct Answer: (B) QRSP

Solution: The goal is to create a sentence with a clear chronological and logical structure. Q
sets the temporal context (after the COVID-19 pandemic), establishing when the action
occurred. R follows by introducing the subject (many organizations), which is necessary
before describing what they did. P then provides the action (have adopted hybrid working
models), and S elaborates on this action by describing the models as blending remote and
office work. This sequence—context (Q), subject (R), action (P), detail (S)—forms a
grammatically correct and coherent sentence: After the COVID-19 pandemic, many
organizations have adopted hybrid working models blending remote and office work. Other
orders disrupt this flow, such as placing the action before the subject or context.

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 Quick Tip
Arrange sentences by starting with the context (time or place), followed by the subject,
the action, and then any descriptive details. Check for grammatical clues like verb
agreement and modifiers to confirm the order.

7. Parts:
P: before they reach irreversible levels
Q: proactive policies and global cooperation
R: environmental challenges require
S: to mitigate the damage
Choose the correct order:
(A) RQSP
(B) QRPS
(C) RSQP
(D) QSRP

Correct Answer: (A) RQSP

Solution: For a logical and grammatically sound sentence, we begin with R, which
introduces the subject (environmental challenges) and the verb require, setting up what is
needed. Q follows as it specifies what is required (proactive policies and global cooperation).
Next, S provides the purpose of these requirements (to mitigate the damage), with the
infinitive to linking it to the verb require. Finally, P adds a time constraint (before they reach
irreversible levels), where they refers back to environmental challenges, completing the
sentence. The result is: Environmental challenges require proactive policies and global
cooperation to mitigate the damage before they reach irreversible levels. This order ensures
clarity and maintains pronoun reference and logical progression.

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 Quick Tip
For complex sentences, identify the subject and verb first, then attach requirements,
purposes (often with to), and conditions (like time constraints). Ensure pronouns (e.g.,
they) refer clearly to the subject. Practice by sketching a flowchart of ideas to visualize
the sequence.

8. Idiom: Burn the midnight oil”

Meaning:
(A) Waste time
(B) Work late into the night
(C) Read useless books
(D) Wake up early

Correct Answer: (B) Work late into the night

Solution: The idiom burn the midnight oil refers to working or studying late into the night,
often with dedication or urgency. Historically, it derives from the use of oil lamps for light
before electricity, implying someone stays up late burning lamp oil to continue their work.
Option (B) directly captures this meaning. The other options—(A) wasting time, (C) reading
useless books, and (D) waking up early—do not align with the idiom’s connotation of
late-night effort. For example, waking up early (D) is the opposite of staying up late, and
reading useless books (C) is unrelated to the idiom’s focus on productive work.

Quick Tip
To understand idioms, visualize their literal meaning (e.g., burning oil in a lamp at
night) and connect it to the figurative sense (working late). Eliminate options that don’t
match the context or historical imagery of the phrase.

9. Choose the correct sentence:

(A) Each of the players are ready.

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(B) Neither of the answers are correct.
(C) The team of doctors is arriving soon.
(D) A group of students have submitted the report.

Correct Answer: (C) The team of doctors is arriving soon.

Solution: Subject-verb agreement requires the verb to match the number (singular or plural)
of the subject. In (C), team is a singular collective noun, correctly paired with the singular
verb is, making it the correct sentence. In (A), each is a singular pronoun, so are is incorrect;
it should be is ready. In (B), neither is singular, requiring is instead of are. In (D), group is a
collective noun typically treated as singular when acting as a unit (e.g., submitting one
report), so has submitted would be more appropriate than have. While collective nouns like
group can take plural verbs in some contexts (e.g., when emphasizing individual members),
the singular is standard here due to the unified action. Thus, (C) is the only fully correct
sentence.

Quick Tip
Identify the core subject (ignoring prepositional phrases like of doctors) and check if
it’s singular or plural. Words like each, neither, and collective nouns (e.g., team, group)
usually take singular verbs when acting as a unit. When in doubt, simplify the sentence
to focus on the subject-verb pair.

10. Choose the word most similar in meaning to elusive:

(A) Clear
(B) Hard to catch
(C) Definite
(D) Easy to understand

Correct Answer: (B) Hard to catch

Solution: Elusive describes something that is difficult to grasp, capture, or pin down,
whether physically (e.g., an elusive animal) or abstractly (e.g., an elusive concept). Hard to

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catch (B) directly aligns with this meaning, capturing both literal and figurative senses.
Options (A) clear and (C) definite are antonyms, as they suggest something easily
understood or certain, opposite to elusive. Option (D) easy to understand also contradicts the
meaning of elusive, which implies difficulty. The synonym relationship is clearest with (B),
as it preserves the sense of being challenging to attain or comprehend.

Quick Tip
For synonym questions, think of a sentence using the given word (e.g., The elusive thief
escaped). Replace the word with each option to see which fits best. Eliminate options
that are opposites or unrelated, and consider both literal and figurative meanings.

11. Identify the best version of the sentence:

Incorrect: She was knowing the answer but didn’t speak.
(A) She knows the answer but didn’t speak.
(B) She was known the answer but didn’t speak.
(C) She knew the answer but didn’t speak.
(D) She had know the answer but didn’t speak.

Correct Answer: (C) She knew the answer but didn’t speak.

Solution: The verb know is a stative verb, describing a state of mind or being, and is not
typically used in the continuous tense (e.g., was knowing). Option (C) corrects this by using
the simple past knew, which matches the past-tense context of didn’t speak and conveys that
she possessed knowledge at that time. Option (A) uses knows (present tense), creating a
tense mismatch with didn’t speak (past tense). Option (B) incorrectly uses was known, a
passive voice construction implying someone else knew her, not that she knew the answer.
Option (D) uses had know, which is grammatically incorrect; the correct past perfect form is
had known, but it’s less suitable here since there’s no earlier past event to justify the past
perfect. Thus, (C) is the grammatically and contextually correct choice.

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 Quick Tip
Stative verbs like know, believe, love, or understand rarely take continuous forms (-ing).
Match verb tenses to the sentence’s time frame (e.g., past with past). Test options by
checking for tense consistency and correct verb forms.

12. Glove : Hand :: Sock : ?

(A) Shoe
(B) Foot
(C) Head
(D) Leg

Correct Answer: (B) Foot

Solution: This analogy question tests the relationship between a glove and a hand. A glove
is a piece of clothing worn to cover and protect the hand, so the relationship is item of
clothing : body part it covers. Applying this to sock, a sock is worn to cover and protect the
foot, making (B) foot the correct answer. Option (A) shoe is incorrect because a shoe is
another clothing item, not a body part. Option (C) head is unrelated, as socks are not worn
on the head. Option (D) leg is close but imprecise, as a sock primarily covers the foot, not
the entire leg. The precise analogy is glove : hand :: sock : foot.

Quick Tip
For analogies, define the exact relationship between the first pair (e.g., glove is worn on
hand). Apply the same relationship to the second pair and test each option to ensure it
matches. Watch for distractors that are related but not precise (e.g., leg vs. foot).

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