CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2022
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Annalist, Analyst: The annalist chronicled historical events, while the analyst interpreted data for the research project.
(ii) Gest, Jest: His grand gest of generosity left everyone amazed, while his jests lightened the mood during the tense meeting.
(iii) Sleigh, Slay: Santa rode in his sleigh pulled by reindeer, while the hero set out to slay the dragon threatening the kingdom.
(iv) Shoot, Chute: He aimed to shoot the target accurately, while the skier descended down the chute swiftly.
(v) Coign, Coin: The castle’s turret provided a perfect coign for overlooking the kingdom, while he found an old coin buried in the garden.
(vi) Key, Quay: She used the key to unlock the door, while the boats docked at the quay in the harbor.
(vii) Wile, While: With cunning wile, she convinced him to join the adventure, while he relaxed while reading a book.
(viii) Leek, Leak: She used the leek in her recipe, while the plumber fixed the leak in the kitchen sink.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2021
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Gibe, Jibe: His sarcastic gibe offended her, while his comments began to jibe with the team’s overall sentiment.
(ii) Epigram, Epigraph: She crafted a witty epigram for the book’s introduction, while the ancient text displayed an inspiring epigraph.
(iii) Brawl, Bawl: The tavern erupted into a violent brawl, while the child started to bawl after tripping and scraping their knee.
(iv) Crib, Crypt: They assembled the baby’s crib in the nursery, while the explorers discovered an ancient crypt in the depths of the ruins.
(v) Barmy, Balmy: He dismissed the idea as barmy, while the evening’s weather turned unexpectedly balmy.
(vi) Peat, Petite: The fuel was made from decomposed peat, while she wore a lovely petite dress to the party.
(vii) Monogamous, Monogenous: They vowed to remain monogamous throughout their marriage, while the flowers displayed monogenous colors in various shades of pink.
(viii) Postilion, Posterior: The carriage was guided by a skilled postilion, while he felt discomfort in his posterior after hours of sitting.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2018
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Callous, Callus: His callous behavior hurt her feelings, while the guitarist developed calluses on his fingers from playing for hours.
(ii) Born, Borne: She was born in Paris, while the burden of responsibility was borne by the team leader.
(iii) Faint, Feint: He started to faint due to the heat, while in the duel, his opponent made a feint to distract him.
(iv) Dinghy, Dingy: They rowed the dinghy out to the yacht, while the old room was dark and dingy.
(v) Lose, Loose: Don’t lose your keys again, while the loose shirt felt comfortable in the summer heat.
(vi) Waiver, Waver: He signed the waiver before skydiving, while his determination began to waver as the deadline approached.
(vii) Shear, Sheer: The farmer used shears to clip the sheep’s wool, while the cliff had a sheer drop.
(viii) Resister, Resistor: The resistor regulates the flow of electricity in the circuit, while
the protester was a strong resister of unjust laws.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2017
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Wrath, Wroth: His wrath was evident after the betrayal, while she was visibly wroth at the unfair treatment.
(ii) Veracity, Voracity: His veracity in reporting the facts was unquestionable, while her voracity for knowledge led her to read extensively.
(iii) Subtler, Sutler: The artist aimed for a subtler shade of blue in the painting, while the sutler supplied provisions to the soldiers.
(iv) Retenue, Retinue: She maintained a sense of retenue during the formal event, while the royal’s retinue followed closely behind.
(v) Minute, Minuet: He examined the details at a minute level, while the ballroom dancers performed a graceful minuet.
(vi) Furor, Furore: There was a furor over the controversial decision, while the movie caused a furore due to its sensitive subject matter.
(vii) Dinghy, dingy: They rowed the dinghy to reach the yacht, while the basement room was dark and dingy.
(viii) Bony, Bonny: The malnourished dog was bony, while the newborn was a bonny and healthy baby.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2016
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Adverse, Averse: The adverse weather conditions delayed the flight, while she was averse to taking risks in her investments.
(ii) Altogether, All Together: They were altogether pleased with the project’s outcome, while they gathered all together for the team meeting.
(iii) Allude, Elude: He tried to allude to the topic without directly mentioning it, while the culprit managed to elude capture by the police.
(iv) Braise, Braze: She decided to braise the meat slowly for tenderness, while the blacksmith used a torch to braze the metal parts together.
(v) Curb, Kerb: He parked the car next to the curb, while she tripped on the uneven kerb while walking.
(vi) Faze, Phase: The criticism didn’t faze her, while they were in the planning phase of the project.
(vii) Maybe, May Be: Maybe we’ll go out for dinner tonight, while he may be late due to traffic.
(viii) Moat, Mote: The castle was surrounded by a protective moat, while a mote of dust floated through the sunbeam in the room.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2013
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Adjoin, Adjourn: The two houses adjoin each other, while the meeting will adjourn until tomorrow.
(ii) Allay, Ally: His assurances helped to allay her fears, while they decided to ally themselves with the neighboring kingdom.
(iii) Bases, Basis: The argument was based on false premises, while the bases of their relationship were trust and mutual respect.
(iv) Click, Clique: He heard a distinct click when the lock opened, while she was part of a tight-knit clique in high school.
(v) Distract, Detract: Don’t let the noise distract you from your studies, while his behavior may detract from his otherwise good reputation.
(vi) Liable, Libel: He’s liable for damages after the accident, while spreading false information about someone can be considered libel.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2011
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Capital, Capitol: The city’s financial capital was bustling with activity, while the protestors gathered at the capitol building.
(ii) Assay, Essay: He performed an assay to determine the purity of the metal, while she spent hours working on her essay for the competition.
(iii) Envelop, Envelope: The fog started to envelop the city, while she sealed the letter in an envelope.
(iv) Decree, Degree: The king issued a royal decree, while she earned her master’s degree in psychology.
(v) Desolate, Dissolute: The once-thriving town had become desolate after the factory closed, while his dissolute lifestyle led to his downfall.
(vi) Species, Specie: There are various species of birds in the forest, while they paid in specie rather than using currency.
(vii) Tortuous, Torturous: The mountain road was tortuous, full of twists and turns, while enduring the pain was torturous for him.
(viii) Wet, Whet: He stepped out into the wet rain, while a good book can whet your appetite for reading.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2010
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Adverse, Averse: She faced adverse weather conditions during her journey, while he was averse to taking risks in his investments.
(ii) Maize, Maze: The fields were filled with ripe maize ready for harvest, while the children got lost in the intricate maze at the fair.
(iii) Medal, Meddle: He won a gold medal in the competition, while she didn’t want to meddle in their personal affairs.
(iv) Imperious, Imperial: Her imperious attitude made her difficult to work with, while the empire’s coin bore the imperial seal.
(v) Veracity, Voracity: His veracity in reporting the facts was unquestionable, while her voracity for knowledge led her to read extensively.
(vi) Allusion, Illusion: The author made an allusion to Shakespeare in the novel, while the magician created an illusion of disappearing objects.
(vii) Ordnance, Ordinance: The military had a stockpile of powerful ordnance, while the city passed an ordinance prohibiting loud noises after midnight.
(viii) Willing, Wilful: She was willing to compromise for the team’s success, while his wilful behavior led to unnecessary conflicts.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2009
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Persecute, Prosecute: The authorities will prosecute those responsible for the crime, while the refugees feared they might be persecuted for their beliefs.
(ii) Luxuriant, Luxurious: The garden was filled with luxuriant vegetation, while they enjoyed a luxurious stay at the five-star hotel.
(iii) Mean, Mien: His rude comments revealed a mean personality, while her confident mien exuded elegance.
(iv) Observation, Observance: The scientist made an important observation during the experiment, while they followed the religious observance with devotion.
(v) Naughty, Knotty: The naughty child was always up to mischief, while she struggled to untangle the knotty rope.
(vi) Ghostly, Ghastly: They heard ghostly sounds in the abandoned house, while the accident scene was ghastly to witness.
(vii) Hew, Hue: He used an axe to hew the wood into shape, while the painting had a beautiful blend of hues.
(viii) Hoard, Horde: The dragon hoarded treasures in its cave, while a horde of tourists crowded the streets during the festival.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2008
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
(i) Mitigate, Alleviate: The new policies aim to mitigate the effects of climate change, while the medication helped alleviate her pain.
(ii) Persecute, Prosecute: The government promised not to persecute people for their beliefs, while the legal system will prosecute those who commit crimes.
(iii) Popular, Populace: The book became popular among readers, while the entire populace protested against the new tax laws.
(iv) Compliment, Complement: She received a compliment on her dress, while the wine complemented the meal perfectly.
(v) Excite, Incite: The thrilling movie trailer excited the audience, while his speech aimed to incite social change.
(vi) Voracity, Veracity: His voracity for knowledge led him to read many books, while her reputation for truthfulness and accuracy showcased her veracity.
(vii) Virtual, Virtuous: In the virtual world of gaming, he was a skilled player, while her virtuous actions earned her respect in the community.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2006
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
Veracity, Voracity: Her reputation for veracity made her a trustworthy witness, while his voracity for sweets was well-known among his friends.
Persecute, Prosecute: The government promised not to persecute people for their beliefs, while the legal system will prosecute those who commit crimes.
Moat, Mote: The castle was protected by a surrounding moat, while a tiny mote of dust danced in the sunlight.
Loath, Loathe: He was loath to leave his hometown, while she began to loathe the cold weather.
Ingenious, Ingenuous: His ingenious invention revolutionized the industry, while her ingenuous nature made her susceptible to deception.
Fair, Feign: The event aimed to provide a fair opportunity for all participants, while he had to feign interest in the conversation.
Emigrant, Immigrant: She became an emigrant, leaving her home country for a new life abroad, while he arrived as an immigrant seeking better opportunities in a new land.
Wreak, Wreck: The storm could wreak havoc on the coastline, while the shipwreck was a result of the rough sea.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2005
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
Council, Counsel: The council met to discuss new policies, while she sought legal counsel before signing the contract.
Distinct, Distinctive: Each sibling had distinct features, while her distinctive style set her apart in the fashion industry.
Apposite, Opposite: His comment was apposite to the discussion, while her viewpoint was completely opposite to theirs.
Deprecate, Depreciate: She didn’t mean to deprecate his efforts, while the value of the car continued to depreciate over time.
Punctual, Punctilious: He was always punctual for meetings, while she was punctilious about following every rule in the office.
Judicial, Judicious: The judicial system is responsible for interpreting the law, while he made a judicious decision based on careful consideration.
Salutary, Salubrious: The exercise had a salutary effect on her health, while the fresh air made the environment salubrious for living.
Canvas, Canvass: He painted on a large canvas, while they decided to canvass the neighborhood for opinions on the new park.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2004
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
Auger, Augur: He used an auger to bore holes into the wood, while some believed the bird’s song could augur good fortune.
Fain, Feign: She was fain to accept the invitation, eager and willing, while he had to feign interest in the topic to avoid offense.
Emigrate, Immigrate: They decided to emigrate from their home country, seeking a better life abroad, while he needed to go through immigration to enter the new country.
Envy, Jealousy: She felt envy when she saw her friend’s new car, desiring the same, while his jealousy arose from a fear of losing what he had.
Invade, Attack: The army decided to invade the enemy’s territory, while the terrorists planned to attack the city.
Trifling, Trivial: His complaints were trifling, not worth serious attention, while she found the matter trivial and easily solvable.
Simulation, Dissimulation: The virtual reality headset created a simulation of a spaceship, while his dissimulation hid his true feelings about the situation.
Venal, Venial: His venal behavior in accepting bribes was considered corrupt, while her minor mistake was seen as venial and forgivable.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2001
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
Brooch, Broad: She wore an exquisite brooch on her dress, while the river flowed wide and broad.
Collusion, Collision: The investigation uncovered a case of collusion among the executives, while the collision between the two cars caused a traffic jam.
Fain, Feign: He was fain to accept the challenge, eager and willing, while he had to feign interest in the subject to avoid embarrassment.
Hoard, Horde: The dragon hoarded treasures in its cave, while a horde of people rushed toward the concert stage.
Illusion, Delusion: The magician created an illusion of disappearing objects, while his belief in his own invincibility was a delusion.
Persecute, Prosecute: The government promised not to persecute people for their beliefs, while the legal system will prosecute those who commit crimes.
Prescribe, Proscribe: The doctor will prescribe medication for your condition, while the rules proscribe the use of cell phones in the library.
Respectfully, Respectively: They greeted each other respectfully during the meeting, while the twins were named John and Jake, respectively.
Complacent, Complaisant: She grew complacent in her achievements, satisfied and self-sufficient, while he was always complaisant, eager to please others.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2000
WRITE PAIR OF WORDS IN SENTENCES CLEARLY ILLUSTRATING THEIR MEANING
Knead, Need: She needed to knead the dough thoroughly for the bread, following the recipe’s instructions.
Queue, Cue: They stood in a long queue waiting for the tickets, while the ringing bell served as the cue for the actors to start the play.
Quarts, Quartz: The recipe required two quarts of milk, while the watch was encased in a protective layer of quartz.
Choral, Coral: The choral singing filled the auditorium, while the vibrant colors of the coral reef fascinated the divers.
Discrete, Discreet: Each unit in the system had discrete functions, separate and distinct, while he was discreet about sharing confidential information.
Epoch, Epic: The Renaissance marked an important epoch in history, a distinct period, while the poem narrated the hero’s epic journey.
Libel, Liable: Publishing false information about someone can be considered libel, while he was liable for the damages caused by the accident.
Male, Mail: The male lion roamed the savanna, while she received a package in the mail.
Banned, Band: Smoking was banned in public places, while the local band played music at the event.