449 English questions asked in CTET previous year papers, each with the correct answer and explanation. Read them free on UTpaper, or attempt the full papers as timed online tests.
Q351CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Children work in pairs. A text is divided in half. One child reads their text for the partner which the other child writes. Two of them work out the whole text. This activity is called
Arunning dictation
Bword web
Cpartial dictation
Dstory telling
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Correct answer: (C) partial dictation
Explanation
Each child holds only part of the text and dictates it to the partner, so together they rebuild the whole—a partial (paired) dictation activity.
Q352CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Which of the following statements is not true of study about the literary texts in language classroom?
ALiterary texts should be used to teach grammar.
BLiterary texts are cultural inputs for language learning.
CLiterary texts develop critical thinking and reflection.
DLiterary texts are for appreciation and enjoyment.
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Correct answer: (A) Literary texts should be used to teach grammar.
Explanation
Literature is meant for enjoyment, appreciation, cultural input and reflection; using it mainly as material to teach grammar defeats its purpose.
Q353CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Naveen of Class VI struggles with reading the text. The teacher gives him simpler text to read. She conducts shared reading sessions for him. The support provided by the teacher is called
Areading readiness
Bscaffolding
Cbrainstorming
Dice breaking
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Correct answer: (B) scaffolding
Explanation
Giving temporary, adjusted support (simpler texts, shared reading) to help a learner do what he cannot yet do alone is scaffolding (Bruner, Vygotsky).
Q354CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Which approach to language teaching-learning believes ‘language is a habit’?
AAudiolingualism
BCommunicative language teaching
CNatural approach
DCooperative language learning
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Correct answer: (A) Audiolingualism
Explanation
The audiolingual method, based on behaviourism, treats language as habit formation through drills and repetition.
Q355CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
A child reads an unseen passage for which he is expected to answer the questions that follow. This type of reading is referred to as
Ascanning
Bexclusive reading
Cskimming
Dextensive reading
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Correct answer: (A) scanning
Explanation
To answer specific questions the reader looks quickly through the text for particular information, which is scanning.
Q356CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Teacher shows five pictures to the students and asks them to write story based on these pictures.
This is an example of
Ashow and tell
Bjigsaw dictation
Cshared reading
Dcreative writing
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Correct answer: (D) creative writing
Explanation
Writing an original story from picture prompts is a creative writing task.
Q357CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Which of the following is the characteristic of performance-based assessment in language?
Performance-based assessment asks learners to use language in real, contextualized communicative tasks rather than answer isolated test items.
Q358CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
Read the following statements :
A : Reading is just to understand letter-sound relationships and pronounce the words correctly.
B : Reading is decoding symbols to arrive at meaning.
Choose the correct option.
ABoth A and B are true
BA is true but B is false
CB is true but A is false
DBoth A and B are false
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Correct answer: (C) B is true but A is false
Explanation
Reading is making meaning from print (B true); decoding letter-sound relationships and pronunciation alone is not reading (A false).
Q359CTET February 2026 Paper 2 Maths & Science, 7 Feb 2026
A teacher has to assess listening skill of her students. Which of the following activities can she select as a listening assessment?
ARating the children on their oral presentation
BTeacher tells a story and after that asks comprehension-based questions
CTeacher asks the children to read a story and after that asks comprehension-based questions
DTeacher gives vocabulary-based tasks
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Correct answer: (B) Teacher tells a story and after that asks comprehension-based questions
Explanation
Narrating a story and then asking comprehension questions tests how well children understood what they heard; the other options assess speaking, reading or vocabulary.
A teacher of class III gives her students unseen passage worksheets, writing tasks, picture description activities, recitation and storytelling by them across the term. She has recorded the performance of the learners to include in the overall performance assessment of the learners. This record of assessment is known as:
APortfolio
BSummative assessment
CFormative assessment
DPerformance
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Correct answer: (C) Formative assessment
Explanation
Assessing learners continuously through varied tasks across the term and recording their performance is formative (continuous) assessment, which then feeds into the overall assessment.
Which of the following should not be the objective of reading stories at foundational stage?
AExplicitly tell moral values
BEnhance reading skills
CDevelop culture of reading
DEnhance vocabulary
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Correct answer: (A) Explicitly tell moral values
Explanation
At the foundational stage, stories are read to build reading skills, vocabulary and a love of reading; explicitly preaching moral values should not be the objective, as children can draw meanings themselves.
Read the following statements about reading skills.
A. Reading is just the ability to decode.
B. Children learn to read through involvement in the act of reading.
Which of the above statements is/are True/False?
AOnly B is true.
BOnly A is true.
CBoth A and B are true.
DBoth A and B are false.
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Correct answer: (A) Only B is true.
Explanation
Reading is making meaning from text, not just decoding symbols, so A is false. Children learn to read by actually engaging in reading, so B is true.
AOne element of the writing process during which writers consider what they have written and make changes in the content.
BOne element of the writing process during which writers generate potential topics and writing ideas.
COne element of the writing process during which writers formally share their work with a wider audience.
DOne element of the writing process during which writers capture preliminary ideas.
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Correct answer: (B) One element of the writing process during which writers generate potential topics and writing ideas.
Explanation
Pre-writing is the first stage of process writing, where writers brainstorm and generate topics and ideas. Revising (option 1) and publishing (option 3) are later stages, and capturing preliminary ideas in text is drafting.
A classroom makes the learners notice language through various means, viz. on the wall, class library, audio and videos. This can be described as:
ALanguage comprehension
BInput-rich environment
CLanguage practice through senses
DLanguage acquisition
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Correct answer: (B) Input-rich environment
Explanation
Surrounding learners with language through wall displays, a class library, audio and video creates an input-rich (print-rich) environment that supports acquisition.
Given below are two statements, one marked as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Language is an effective tool for communication.
Reason (R): Language helps to convey social messages.
A(A) is true, but (R) is false.
BBoth (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
CBoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
D(R) is true, but (A) is false.
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Correct answer: (C) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation
Language is an effective tool of communication precisely because it lets us convey messages, including social ones. Both are true and R explains A.
Which one of the following is a characteristic of the language disorder ‘Dyslexia’?
AInconsistent spacing between letters/words
BReversals in reading
CDifficulty forming letter shapes
DStudents have good verbal but poor writing skills
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Correct answer: (B) Reversals in reading
Explanation
Dyslexia is a reading disorder; reversing letters or words while reading (b/d, was/saw) is a typical sign. Spacing problems and difficulty forming letters point to dysgraphia.
Which of the following principles of emerging literacy is not supported by Vygotsky?
AChild-directed exploration
BCooperative learning
CAdult-guided learning
DDrill and practice
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Correct answer: (D) Drill and practice
Explanation
Vygotsky stressed social interaction, guidance by adults and peers, and children's active exploration within the ZPD; mechanical drill and practice is a behaviourist idea he did not support.
AUsing a variety of techniques such as gestures, body language, pictures, and objects.
BObjectives displayed in the classroom.
CGrouping students appropriately.
DThe syllabus and language objectives displayed for the parents to ensure what is being taught to their children.
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Correct answer: (A) Using a variety of techniques such as gestures, body language, pictures, and objects.
Explanation
Comprehensible input (Krashen) is language learners can understand; teachers make input comprehensible with gestures, body language, pictures and real objects.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
Why was Lata frowning?
ABecause she had not done well in the examination.
BBecause she had quarrelled with her friend.
CBecause she had been scolded by her parents.
DBecause she could not take the examination.
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Correct answer: (A) Because she had not done well in the examination.
Explanation
Lata frowned at her ink-stained finger and was close to tears after the paper, while others discussed it; she feels she had not done well in the examination.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
Which exam had Lata taken?
AHistory
BFrench literature
CPhysical Science
DEnglish literature
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Correct answer: (D) English literature
Explanation
The passage says 'Other English students stood on the steps' and they discuss the 'King Lear' question, so Lata had taken the English literature exam.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
Which of the following statements is True/False?
A. Lata had done well in the examination.
B. She feared she would be asked how she had fared in the examination at home.
ABoth A and B are true.
BBoth A and B are false.
CB is true but A is false.
DA is true but B is false.
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (C) B is true but A is false.
Explanation
Lata was close to tears, so she had not done well (A is false), and she dreaded being 'pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done' at home (B is true).
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
Which of the following statements is True/False?
A. Some history students too were discussing their paper.
B. The young man too had not fared well in his exam.
ABoth A and B are true.
BBoth A and B are false.
CA is true but B is false.
DB is true but A is false.
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) Both A and B are true.
Explanation
'A knot of history students ... discussing their paper' makes A true, and the young man looked worried because cricket 'had taken its toll upon his performance', so B is also true.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
‘... the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention ...’
(Underlined part: who had brought himself to Lata’s attention)
Identify the clause in the underlined part of the sentence.
APrincipal Clause
BAdjective Clause
CAdverb Clause
DNoun Clause
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Correct answer: (B) Adjective Clause
Explanation
The clause 'who had brought himself to Lata's attention' begins with the relative pronoun 'who' and describes the noun 'young man', so it is an adjective (relative) clause.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
‘The edge of her middle finger ...’
(Underlined word: edge)
Name the Part of Speech of the underlined word in the given sentence part.
ANoun
BPronoun
CPreposition
DAdjective
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) Noun
Explanation
'Edge' follows the article 'The' and is the subject of the sentence, naming a part of the finger, so it is a noun.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
‘... how well she had done.’
Identify the tense of the given expression.
APresent Perfect Tense
BSimple Past Tense
CPast Perfect Tense
DSimple Future Tense
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (C) Past Perfect Tense
Explanation
'Had done' is had + past participle, which is the past perfect tense.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
‘A knot of history students ...’
What does ‘knot’ mean in this expression?
Agroup
Bstring
Cloop
Djoint
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) group
Explanation
Here 'knot' means a small, close group of people standing together.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
Lata stood outside the hall for a minute. Sunlight poured onto the stone steps. The edge of her middle finger was smeared with dark blue ink, and she looked at it, frowning. She was close to tears.
Other English students stood on the steps and chatted. A post-mortem of the paper was being held, and it was dominated by an optimistic and chubby girl who was ticking off on her fingers the various points she had answered correctly.
‘This is one paper I know I have done really well,’ she said. ‘Especially the ‘King Lear’ question. I think that the answer was ‘Yes’.’ Others were looking excited or depressed. Everyone agreed that several of the questions were far harder than they had needed to be. A knot of history students stood not far away, discussing their paper, which had been held simultaneously in the same building. One of them was the young man who had brought himself to Lata’s attention in the Imperial Book Depot, and he was looking a little worried. He had spent a great deal of time these last few months in extra-curricular activities — particularly cricket — and this had taken its toll upon his performance.
Lata walked to a bench beneath the gulmohar tree and sat down to collect herself. When she got home for lunch, she would be pestered with a hundred questions about how well she had done. She looked down at the red flowers that lay scattered at her feet. In her head, she could still hear the buzzing of the fly.
The young man, though he had been talking to his classmates, had noticed her walking down the steps. When she sat down on the far bench under the tree, he decided to have a word with her. He told his friends that he had to go home for lunch — that his father would be waiting for him — and hurried along the path past the gulmohar. As he came to the bench, he uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped.
‘A post-mortem of the paper was being held ...’
Identify the literary device used in the expression.
ASimile
BHyperbole
CParallelism
DMetaphor
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (D) Metaphor
Explanation
The students' detailed discussion of the exam is called a 'post-mortem' without using 'like' or 'as', an implied comparison, i.e. a metaphor.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
Who is the narrator in the poem?
AThe poet
BA villager
CA common man
DThe reader
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) The poet
Explanation
The poem is told in the first person ('I watched', 'My mother', 'my children') by the poet, who recalls the night his mother was stung by a scorpion.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
What was the condition of the mother?
AShe was in acute pain.
BShe had high fever.
CShe had recovered from illness.
DShe was hale and hearty.
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) She was in acute pain.
Explanation
The mother 'twisted through and through, groaning on a mat' after the scorpion sting, which shows she was in acute pain.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
By conviction, the father was ____________.
Aa confirmed atheist
Ba devotee of God
Can upholder of reason and rationality
Da believer in destiny
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (C) an upholder of reason and rationality
Explanation
The father is described as 'sceptic, rationalist', i.e. by conviction he upheld reason and rationality, even though in panic he tried every remedy.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
The mother thanked God for ____________.
Aher quick recovery
Bsparing her children
Cbeing able to get a doctor in time
Descaping the scorpion’s bite
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) sparing her children
Explanation
Her only words were 'Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children', so she thanked God for sparing her children.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
Which literary device has been used in the expression: ‘to tame the poison’?
AMetaphor
BAnaphora
COxymoron
DSimile
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) Metaphor
Explanation
'Tame' is normally used for wild animals; applying it to poison is an implied comparison of the poison to a wild beast, i.e. a metaphor.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
Which figure of speech is there in ‘the flame feeding on my mother’?
ASimile
BPersonification
CIrony
DAlliteration
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) Personification
Explanation
The flame is given the human/animal action of 'feeding', so it is personification.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
Why did Tarawati’s husband ‘berate’ her?
AFor not treating their daughter well
BFor constantly quarrelling with him
CFor picking up fights with neighbours
DFor not doing the household work properly
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) For not treating their daughter well
Explanation
The passage says her husband berated her 'for not treating Roopa well', i.e. their daughter.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
Tarawati’s emotional state towards her daughter could be described as __________.
Aloving
Bindifferent
Cambivalent
Dhostile
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (C) ambivalent
Explanation
Tarawati neglected Roopa's education yet collects things for her exam and grows emotional thinking of her, showing mixed feelings — ambivalent.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
What social issue is highlighted in the passage?
Acaste
Bgender
Ccommunalism
Dpoverty
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) gender
Explanation
The passage contrasts care for sons with neglect of daughters, highlighting gender discrimination.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
Choose the word nearest in meaning to ‘holler’.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
‘Things were lying at sixes and sevens...’ means.....
Ain proper order
Bin a disorderly state
Cbeing old and worn-out
Dbeing dirty and unwashed
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) in a disorderly state
Explanation
'At sixes and sevens' is an idiom meaning in a state of confusion or disorder.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
Which of the following is opposite in meaning to ‘admonition’?
Aflattery
Bpraise
Cshriek
Drebuke
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) praise
Explanation
An admonition is a scolding or warning; its opposite is praise.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
The next day, Roopa had to appear in her examination in __________.
AHome Science
BChemistry
CBiology
DEnglish
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) Home Science
Explanation
The passage says Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
Why was Tarawati not keen to get Roopa educated?
ABecause she did not know the value of good education
BBecause she did not want to spend money on Roopa’s education
CBecause she did not want Roopa to go out
DBecause she did not love her
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (A) Because she did not know the value of good education
Explanation
Her husband says she does not want Roopa educated because she herself is not educated, i.e. she did not know the value of good education.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Soon some idea struck her and she went to the window and hollered, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’ After calling out for Roopa, she had a look at the things that she had brought for her. Roopa had to sit for her home science examination the next day and Tarawati had collected things like some kitchen items, a bucket, a mug and a stool that Roopa required for the practical examination.
While looking at the things that she had collected for Roopa, Tarawati recalled her husband who had died a few years ago. She remembered him berating her for not treating Roopa well. ‘Roopa’s mother! Do not think only sons deserve all love and care and not daughters’. I’m determined to give Roopa good education so that she leads a happy and meaningful life. You are not educated yourself. That’s probably why you don’t want her to be educated. This is not fair on your part. You must change your views and let her grow and flower into a happy, confident individual.’
Thinking of her husband’s admonition on this account, Tarawati felt emotional. The fact of the matter was that Roopa’s parents differed on Roopa’s upbringing and fought with each other on the issue. The fight continued for days together and often it was Roopa who intervened to broker peace between them. On his death-bed too, Roopa’s father had cried and pleaded with her to treat Roopa in a nice manner. Hugging Roopa, he had told Tarawati, ‘Take care of Roopa. Give her good education and let her decide the course of her life herself.’ While recalling the interaction, tears rolled down Tarawati’s eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening shadows were getting darker. Tarawati was exhausted and had a headache too. She looked at her dust-laden feet and then around the room. In order to bring some semblance of order, she forced herself to get up and get going. Then she called her daughter again, ‘Roopa! Roopa!’
‘. . . to broker peace between them.’ (the underlined expression is “to broker”)
Identify the Part of Speech of the underlined expression.
AAdjective
BPreposition
CVerb
DNoun
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (C) Verb
Explanation
In 'to broker peace', 'to broker' is an infinitive meaning to arrange or negotiate, so it works as a verb.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Put away the road maps now.
To go there,
you do not need
helicopters any more;
wherever there is hunger,
there Kalahandi is.
The god of rain
turned away his face.
There was not one green leaf
left on the trees for supper.
The whole village a graveyard.
Cracked ground,
drab river sand.
All the plans failed;
the poverty line
receded further.
‘The god of rain/turned away his face’. Which figure of speech is used here?
Aalliteration
Bpersonification
Coxymoron
Dtransferred epithet
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) personification
Explanation
The rain is given a human face and the human action of turning away, which is personification.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Put away the road maps now.
To go there,
you do not need
helicopters any more;
wherever there is hunger,
there Kalahandi is.
The god of rain
turned away his face.
There was not one green leaf
left on the trees for supper.
The whole village a graveyard.
Cracked ground,
drab river sand.
All the plans failed;
the poverty line
receded further.
What does ‘the poverty line/receded further’ signify?
AThat poverty is of no consequence in the present-day world
BThat poverty is increasing
CThat poverty is a thing of the past
DThat poverty is going down
Show answerHide answer
Correct answer: (B) That poverty is increasing
Explanation
The poverty line 'receding further' means more people are falling below it, i.e. poverty is increasing.
How to use these CTET English questions
Every question here was asked in a real CTET paper; the paper and shift are shown on the card, and the number opens the question on its own page. Try each one before tapping Show answer, then attempt the full CTET papers as timed tests to check your speed under exam conditions.