SEE 2079 (2023)
Compulsory English
Reading and Writing
(Written Test)
RE – 101 ‘BP’
Q2. Read the following notice and do the tasks that follow. [10]
I could not help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsay lunching by himself in a restaurant. I never saw anyone wear an expression of such deep gloom. He was staring into space. He looked as though the burden of the whole world sat on his shoulders. I was sorry for him: I suspected at once that his unfortunate brother had been causing trouble again. I went up to him and held out my hand.
“How are you?” I asked.
“I’m not in hilarious spirits,” he answered.
“Is it Tom again?” He sighed.
“Yes, it’s Tom again.”
“Why don’t you chuck him? You’ve done everything in the world for him. You must know by now that he’s quite hopeless.”
I suppose every family has a black sheep. Tom had been a sore trial to him for twenty years. He had begun life decently enough: he went into business, married, and had two children. The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people and there was every reason to suppose that Tom Ramsay would have a useful and honorable career. But one day, without warning, he announced that he didn’t like work and that he wasn’t suited for marriage. He wanted to enjoy himself. He would listen to no expostulations. He left his wife and his office. He had a little money and spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe.
Rumors of his doings reached his relations from time to time and they were profoundly shocked.
2.1 Match the descriptions in column ‘A’ with correct words in column ‘B’. One word does not have a match. [5×1=5]
Column A
I. deserving of respect or high regardII. marked by or causing merriment or laughterIII. lowness of spiritIV. having no expectation of good or successV. marked or accompanied by or resulting in bad luck
Column B
a. gloomb. unfortunatec. hilariousd. expostulationse. honourablef. hopelessShow/Hide Answer
Column A
I. deserving of respect or high regardII. marked by or causing merriment or laughterIII. lowness of spiritIV. having no expectation of good or successV. marked or accompanied by or resulting in bad luck
Column B
e. honourablec. hilariousa. gloomf. hopelessb. unfortunate
2.2 Answer the following questions. [5×1=5]I. Who was George troubled by?II. How many children did George’s brother have?III. Why would everyone think that Tom would have an honorable career?IV. Why did Tom leave his wife and his office?V. What did he do with the little money for two years?Show/Hide Answer
I. George was troubled by his brother Tom.
II. Tom, George’s brother, had two children.
III. Everyone would think that Tom would have an honorable career because he initially started life decently, went into business, got married, and had a family. His family, the Ramsays, were respectable people, so people expected Tom to have a useful and honorable career.
IV. Tom left his wife and his office because he announced one day that he didn’t like work and wasn’t suited for marriage. He wanted to enjoy himself and chose to pursue a carefree lifestyle instead.
V. With the little money he had, Tom spent two happy years traveling to various capitals of Europe.
