Q.2 – Precis with Title Title: “The Virtue of Thoughtful Idleness”
Precis (within ~120 words):
The world’s disorder stems not from laziness, but from misguided activity. The author argues that overzealous individuals, acting without reflection, often cause more harm than good—much like the devil, who is ever busy. Historical events like World War I might have been avoided had leaders embraced rest and contemplation instead of rushed decisions. The glorification of unceasing effort, especially among politicians and reformers, leads to poorly thought-out policies and misplaced priorities—such as focusing on trivial matters at religious conferences. The author suggests that deliberate idleness could restore balance, improve decisions, and foster kindness and clarity, making the world a more thoughtful and peaceful place.
1. What has been lamented in the text?
The author laments that modern society has lost its appreciation for aesthetic beauty and spiritual fulfillment through art. He regrets that beauty is no longer valued as a vital part of life but is instead treated as a luxury or ornament. Furthermore, education fails to cultivate in people the love for becoming saints, scientists, or artists.
2. What is the difference between ordinary man and an artist?
An ordinary man lacks the awareness or pursuit of beauty in life and creation, treating functionality as the sole purpose. In contrast, an artist sees beauty in the universe and reflects it in his work. He exercises the “aesthetic activity” of the spirit, seeking to fulfill a spiritual desire through creation, while the ordinary person remains unaware of this dimension.
3. How can we make our lives beautiful and charming?
We can make our lives beautiful by embracing and exercising our aesthetic sense in everyday activities. This means creating, valuing, and demanding beauty in all that we do or use—whether in designing objects or in personal behavior. Cultivating the spirit of art and beauty elevates the soul and enriches life with meaning and joy.
4. What does the writer actually mean when he says, “Beauty is not an ornament to life”?
The writer means that beauty should not be viewed as an optional extra or luxury. Instead, it is an essential and intrinsic part of life and human creation. Just like morality is vital to actions, beauty should be a necessary part of anything man-made. It nourishes the spirit and should be integrated into all aspects of life.
5. Do art and beauty affect our practical life and morals? Justify whether you agree or disagree.
Yes, art and beauty deeply influence practical life and morals. They shape how we perceive and interact with the world. Beauty refines our tastes, inspires empathy, and cultivates higher emotions, much like moral values guide right action. I agree with the author that the absence of beauty in work leads to spiritual dissatisfaction and societal decay—just like truthless thought or immoral actions harm collective life.
Q.4 (a): Correct Only FIVE of the Following Sentences
- Incorrect: In the accident one of my arms was broken and my legs bruised.
Correct: In the accident, one of my arms was broken and my legs were bruised. - Incorrect: The people who had been raising slogans against the government for many hours they wanted increase in their salaries.
Correct: The people who had been raising slogans against the government for many hours wanted an increase in their salaries. - Incorrect: You have been working very hard for the last two years. Isn’t it?
Correct: You have been working very hard for the last two years, haven’t you? - Incorrect: John could hardly do no better than to have caught a bass of such dimensions.
Correct: John could hardly do better than to have caught a bass of such dimensions. - Incorrect: I who have no chance to meet him would rather go with you instead of sitting at home.
Correct: I, who have no chance of meeting him, would rather go with you than sit at home. - Incorrect: He not only comes there for swimming but also for coaching new swimmers.
Correct: He comes there not only for swimming but also for coaching new swimmers. - Incorrect: When he visited the fair last time, he bought no less than twenty school bags.
Correct: When he visited the fair last time, he bought no fewer than twenty school bags.
(Use “fewer” with countable nouns.) - Incorrect: Ten cattles were grazing in the field.
Correct: Ten cattle were grazing in the field.
(“Cattle” is a plural noun and does not take “s.”)
Q.4 (b): Fill in the Blanks Appropriately
- I cannot buy this car at this price.
✅ (Correct answer: c) at - Send these books to my home address.
✅ (Correct answer: d) to - Monkeys live on trees.
✅ (Correct answer: d) on - I said it to his face.
✅ (Correct answer: c) to - The manager acknowledged the receipt of my letter promptly.
✅ (Correct answer: d) acknowledged - Most foreign students don’t like American coffee, and neither do I.
✅ (Correct answer: d) neither do I - We ought to take care of our parents when they are old.
✅ (Correct answer: d) ought to - Yousaf was digging in the garden the whole of yesterday.
✅ (Correct answer: b) was digging
✅ Q.5 (a): Choose the Correct Analogy (Any FIVE)
- LION : ROAR
➡️ (b) Goat : Bleat
🟢 Correct – Both pairs represent the characteristic sound made by the animal. - SHADOW : LIGHT
➡️ (b) Image : Object
🟢 Correct – A shadow is formed due to light, just like an image is formed from an object. - CLOT : BLOOD
➡️ (b) Curdle : Milk
🟢 Correct – Clotting is to blood what curdling is to milk: a physical transformation. - FEARFUL : COWER
➡️ (c) Arrogant : Strut
🟢 Correct – “Cower” is a fearful behavior; “Strut” is a behavior linked to arrogance. - EXPEDITE : HASTEN
➡️ (c) Facilitate : Make easiest
🟢 Correct – “Expedite” and “hasten” are synonyms, just like “facilitate” and “make easier.” - WOOD : FURNITURE
➡️ (d) Stone : Sculpture
🟢 Correct – Wood is raw material for furniture, just like stone is for sculpture. - SURGEON : DEXTEROUS
➡️ (d) Acrobat : Agile
🟢 Correct – Dexterity is a skill required by surgeons, just as agility is by acrobats. - LECHER : LUST
➡️ (b) Glutton : Greed
🟢 Correct – A lecher is obsessed with lust just as a glutton is obsessed with greed.
✅ Q.5 (b): Punctuate the Paragraph Correctly
Corrected Passage:
A Quaker was one day walking on a country road. He was suddenly met by a highwayman pointing a pistol.
The man exclaimed, “Your money or your life!”
“My friend,” said the Quaker, “I cannot deliver my money, for I should be helping thee in evildoing. However, exchange is lawful, and I will give thee my purse for the pistol.”
The robber agreed. On receiving the purse, the Quaker at once held the pistol at the robber’s head and said,
“Now, friend, my purse back or the weapon may go off.”
“Fire!” said the robber. “There is no powder in the pistol.”
✅ Q.6 (a): Word Pairs – Meaning and Usage (Any Five
(i) Wrath vs Wroth
- Wrath (noun): intense anger.
🔹 He trembled before the king’s wrath after disobeying orders. - Wroth (adjective, archaic): angry or enraged.
🔹 The goddess was wroth with the mortals who defied her.
(ii) Veracity vs Voracity
- Veracity (noun): truthfulness.
🔹 The lawyer questioned the veracity of the witness’s statement. - Voracity (noun): extreme greed or hunger.
🔹 The lion’s voracity was evident as it devoured its prey.
(iii) Subtler vs Sutler
- Subtler (adjective): more delicate or refined in meaning or analysis.
🔹 The subtler details of the poem were lost on the students. - Sutler (noun): a person who sells provisions to soldiers.
🔹 During the war, the sutler followed the army to sell food and drink.
(iv) Retenue vs Retinue
- Retenue: (Not in standard modern usage; possibly a misspelling or obsolete form)
🔹 (No current usage; possibly confused with “retinue.”) - Retinue (noun): a group of attendants or followers.
🔹 The queen arrived with a grand retinue of servants and guards.
(v) Minute vs Minuet
- Minute (adj.): extremely small.
🔹 He made a minute adjustment to the microscope. - Minuet (noun): a slow, graceful dance from the 17th–18th century.
🔹 They performed a minuet at the classical ball.
(vi) Furor vs Furore
- Furor (AmE): public outburst of anger or excitement.
🔹 His controversial remark caused a furor on social media. - Furore (BrE): same meaning as above but chiefly British spelling.
🔹 The book release created a furore across literary circles.
(vii) Dinghy vs Dingy
- Dinghy (noun): a small boat.
🔹 They crossed the river in a wooden dinghy. - Dingy (adj.): dirty, dull, or shabby.
🔹 The apartment was cheap but rather dingy.
(viii) Bony vs Bonny
- Bony (adj.): having prominent bones; thin.
🔹 The stray dog was weak and bony. - Bonny (adj., chiefly Scottish/UK): attractive or beautiful.
🔹 She has a bonny smile that lights up the room.
- Wrath (noun): intense anger.
✅ Q.6 (b): Idioms in Sentences (Any Five
) Spirit away
🔹 The documents were mysteriously spirited away before the audit.
(ii) Plough back
🔹 The company ploughed back its profits into expanding production.
(iii) Eager beaver
🔹 She’s an eager beaver who volunteers for every task.
(iv) Ring a bell
🔹 That name rings a bell, but I can’t recall where I heard it.
(v) Be left holding the baby
🔹 When the fraud was exposed, the junior accountant was left holding the baby.
(vi) Cap in hand
🔹 He went to his old boss, cap in hand, asking for his job back.
(vii) Hold out a carrot
🔹 The company held out a carrot of bonuses to boost productivity.
(viii) Over the moon
🔹 She was over the moon when she passed the CSS exam on her first try.
Q.7 — Translation into English:
It is essential for a person to recognize his flaws, just as he must identify his enemy. A wise friend tells us that disease is our enemy. It pierces the heart of a true friend to see us suffering. Some people, out of shame, hide their illness or consider it a weakness. Others avoid consulting a doctor because they believe they are not truly ill or fear being labeled sick. The real reason behind such behavior is that the person considers the disease a foe. But if one were to view disease as a friend, he would feel no embarrassment in disclosing it. A wise person treats his enemy as his friend to better understand him. But an unwise man mistakes his friend for an enemy and pushes him away. In fact, this disease should be seen as a friend who reveals our inner defects. We should appreciate this messenger of nature and be thankful that it pointed out our hidden ailments. In truth, when one sees disease as a friend, it becomes a proof of friendship and not enmity.