CDS 2024 previous year paper practice · PYQ-pattern set

CDS 2024 PYQ-pattern questions

Showing 10 of the 17 PYQ-pattern questions in this set — freshly worded in that year's pattern, not the original questions. Answers and solutions open under each question.

1. Q1 · Idioms and Phrases

   Select the correct meaning of the underlined idiom. After years of hard work, his business finally turned the corner.

   • A. Moved to a new location
   • B. Started showing improvement
   • C. Completely failed
   • D. Changed its direction
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The idiom 'turned the corner' means to pass a critical point and begin to improve or recover.

2. Q2 · Active and Passive Voice

   Choose the correct passive voice transformation of the following sentence: "The commander inspected all the troops before dawn."

   • A. All the troops were inspected by the commander before dawn.
   • B. All the troops are being inspected by the commander before dawn.
   • C. All the troops had been inspected by the commander before dawn.
   • D. All the troops have been inspected by the commander before dawn.
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   The active sentence uses simple past tense ('inspected'), so the passive form should use 'were inspected,' making option A correct.

3. Q3 · One-Word Substitution

   Choose the most appropriate one-word substitution for the phrase: "A government by officials who are not elected"

   • A. Autocracy
   • B. Democracy
   • C. Bureaucracy
   • D. Oligarchy
   Answer and solution

   Answer: C

   Bureaucracy refers to a system of government where most decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives, making option C correct.

4. Q4 · Indian Polity and Constitution

   Which of the following constitutional bodies has the power to disqualify a member of Parliament on grounds of defection?

   • A. Election Commission of India
   • B. Supreme Court of India
   • C. Speaker of the Lok Sabha or Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
   • D. President of India on advice of the Prime Minister
   Answer and solution

   Answer: C

   Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) of the Constitution, the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairman of Rajya Sabha is empowered to decide on the disqualification of members on grounds of defection.

5. Q5 · Arithmetic

   A shopkeeper marks his goods 30% above the cost price and then allows a discount of 15% on the marked price. What is his net profit percentage?

   • A. 10.5%
   • B. 12.5%
   • C. 13.5%
   • D. 15%
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   If cost price is 100, marked price is 130. After 15% discount, selling price = 130 × 0.85 = 110.5. Profit = 110.5 – 100 = 10.5%.

6. Q6 · Mensuration

   The radius of a sphere is 7 cm. What is its volume? (Use π = 22/7)

   • A. 1372/3 cm³
   • B. 1437/3 cm³
   • C. 4312/3 cm³
   • D. 4851/3 cm³
   Answer and solution

   Answer: C

   Volume of sphere = (4/3)πr³ = (4/3) × (22/7) × 7³ = (4/3) × (22/7) × 343 = 4312/3 cm³.

7. Q7 · Geometry

   In a circle with center O, a chord AB subtends an angle of 80° at the center. What is the angle subtended by the same chord at any point P on the major arc?

   • A. 30°
   • B. 40°
   • C. 50°
   • D. 160°
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The angle subtended at the circumference by a chord is half the angle subtended at the center, so the answer is 80° / 2 = 40°.

8. Q8 · Idioms and Phrases

   Select the meaning of the idiom/phrase: 'To bury the hatchet'

   • A. To hide evidence
   • B. To make peace
   • C. To start a conflict
   • D. To forget something important
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   'To bury the hatchet' means to make peace or end a quarrel, originating from Native American tradition of burying weapons when peace was agreed upon.

9. Q9 · Antonyms

   Select the most appropriate antonym for the underlined word: The professor's lucid explanation helped students grasp the complex theorem quickly.

   • A. Clear
   • B. Obscure
   • C. Simple
   • D. Transparent
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Lucid means clear and easy to understand. The opposite is 'obscure,' meaning unclear or difficult to comprehend. Options A, C, and D are synonyms or near-synonyms of lucid.

10. Q10 · History

    Which of the following medieval Indian rulers is associated with the introduction of the 'Iqta' system for revenue collection?

    • A. Alauddin Khilji
    • B. Iltutmish
    • C. Balban
    • D. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
    Answer and solution

    Answer: B

    Iltutmish, a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, systematized the Iqta system as a method of revenue assignment to nobles and military commanders.