CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2022
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
unfortunately we often miss a basic school lesson every big task consists of several small ones done precisely and perfectly as a nation we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down our moonlit goals into small accomplishable tasks it will reduce frustration anxiety depression in society and embarrassment for the government machinery too as they dont have to defend their unkept promises.
CORRECTION
“Unfortunately, we often miss a basic school lesson: every big task consists of several small ones done precisely and perfectly. As a nation, we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down our monumental goals into small, accomplishable tasks. It will reduce frustration, anxiety, depression in society, and embarrassment for the government machinery too, as they don’t have to defend their unkept promises.“
Explanation for corrections:
Capitalization & Punctuation: Beginning the sentence with “Unfortunately” emphasizes the sentiment.
Colon Usage: A colon introduces an explanation or list, highlighting the explanation of the missed lesson.
Commas: Commas are added to separate clauses and items in a series for readability and to avoid confusion.
Rephrasing & Clarity: The sentence about reducing frustration, anxiety, and depression is rephrased for clarity and emphasis.
Correcting “moonlit” to “monumental”: Presumably, the intended word was “monumental” instead of “moonlit” as it aligns better with the context of significant goals.
Hyphenation: “Accomplishable” is hyphenated to ensure proper compound adjective usage.
Clarification of Government Machinery: Added “government machinery” for specificity and context.
Apostrophe & Correction: “Don’t” instead of “dont” and “unkept” instead of “unkept” for grammatical accuracy.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2021
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed the effect of all external objects however great or splendid ceases with their novelty the courtier stands without emotion in the royal presence the music tramples under his foot the beauties of the spring with little attention to their fragrance and the inhabitant of the coast darts his eye upon the immense diffusion of waters without awe wonder or terror.
CORRECTION
“That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed. The effect of all external objects, however great or splendid, ceases with their novelty. The courtier stands without emotion in the royal presence; the music tramples under his foot the beauties of the spring, with little attention to their fragrance; and the inhabitant of the coast darts his eye upon the immense diffusion of waters without awe, wonder, or terror.“
Explanation for corrections:
Period after introductory phrase: Adding a period after “That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed” separates it as an independent clause for clearer comprehension.
Commas in introductory phrases and lists: Commas are inserted after introductory phrases (“The effect of all external objects”) and within lists to separate items for better readability and comprehension.
Semicolon for distinct clauses: Semicolons are used to separate distinct clauses within the sentence to convey a pause stronger than a comma but not as final as a period.
Commas for clarity in enumeration: Commas are added in the enumeration of the courtier’s behavior to delineate the different actions and clarify the sentence’s structure.
Commas in lists: Commas are used to separate items in a list (“awe, wonder, or terror”) for better readability and understanding.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2020
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
Letters between relatives and friends are called personal letters the most important thing in such letters is the content don’t begin with a hackneyed phrase like I was delighted to get your letter received your letter or I have often thought of writing to you use a vigorous clear chatty style
CORRECTION
“Letters between relatives and friends are called personal letters. The most important thing in such letters is the content. Don’t begin with a hackneyed phrase like ‘I was delighted to get your letter,’ ‘Received your letter,’ or ‘I have often thought of writing to you.’ Use a vigorous, clear, chatty style.”
Explanation for corrections:
Period after introductory statement: A period is added after the introductory statement to create a clear separation and indicate the completion of the thought.
Period after each instruction: Periods are used to end each directive to create clear, concise statements for better understanding.
Quotation marks for phrases: Quotation marks are used to indicate the specific phrases being referred to and to highlight them as examples.
Commas in a series: Commas are used to separate items in a list (“vigorous, clear, chatty style”) for clarity and to indicate individual elements of the suggested writing style.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2019
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
a hungry lion slipped out of the forest into a barnyard one evening when he saw a plump donkey his mouth began to water but just as he was ready to jump on the donkey a rooster crowed he was frightened and so turned away into the forest again hey look at that cowardly lion the donkey brayed to the rooster i am going to chase him and the donkey ran after the lion wait the rooster shouted you dont know that but it was too late the lion had turned and killed the donkey ah my poor stupid friend the rooster said as he watched the lion eating the donkey the lion wasnt afraid of you but of my crowing
CORRECTION
“A hungry lion slipped out of the forest into a barnyard one evening. When he saw a plump donkey, his mouth began to water. But just as he was ready to jump on the donkey, a rooster crowed. He was frightened and so turned away into the forest again. ‘Hey, look at that cowardly lion!’ the donkey brayed to the rooster. ‘I am going to chase him!’ And the donkey ran after the lion. ‘Wait!’ the rooster shouted. ‘You don’t know that!’ But it was too late; the lion had turned and killed the donkey. ‘Ah, my poor stupid friend,’ the rooster said as he watched the lion eating the donkey. ‘The lion wasn’t afraid of you but of my crowing.'”
Explanation for corrections:
Periods to end sentences: Periods are added at the end of each complete thought or sentence to separate the ideas and provide clarity.
Quotation marks for dialogue: Quotation marks are used to denote the direct speech of the characters, making it clear who is speaking.
Commas in dialogue: Commas are used to separate dialogue tags and the spoken words to indicate who is speaking and where the speech begins and ends.
Capitalization of first words in dialogue: The first word in each line of dialogue is capitalized to indicate the start of a new sentence or speech.
Clarification of actions and events: Sentences are restructured and punctuated to improve the flow and comprehension of events in the story.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2018
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish the slavery of caste
There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish: the slavery of caste.
Colon: A colon is used to introduce and emphasize the subsequent explanation or elaboration of the initial statement. It helps to clarify the relationship between the two parts of the sentence.
All that I am all that I hope to be I owe to my angel mother.
All that I am, all that I hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
Commas: Commas are used to separate the different parts of the sentence for clarity and to denote pauses where necessary. They help in grouping the elements and emphasizing each part of the sentiment expressed.
Take away that bauble said Cromwell pointing to the mace which lay upon the table.
Take away that bauble,” said Cromwell, pointing to the mace which lay upon the table.
Quotation Marks and Comma: Quotation marks are used to indicate direct speech by Cromwell, and a comma is placed before the quote to set off the spoken words from the rest of the sentence.
Comma after “bauble”: A comma is added after “bauble” to set off the introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence for better readability and clarity.
There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces and that cure is freedom
There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces, and that cure is freedom.
Comma: A comma is placed after “produces” to set off the introductory clause from the main clause, enhancing readability and clarifying the structure of the sentence.
History it has been said is the essence of innumerable biographies.
History, it has been said, is the essence of innumerable biographies.
Commas: Commas are added to set off the introductory phrase “it has been said” and to enclose it within the sentence for better structure and comprehension.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2017
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
a quaker was one day walking on 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 agree on receiving the purse the quaker at once held the pistol at the robbers 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
CORRECTION
“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.'”
Explanation for corrections:
Capitalization: Capital letters are used for proper nouns like “Quaker” and at the beginning of sentences to maintain grammatical correctness.
Periods to end sentences: Periods are inserted at the end of complete thoughts or sentences to separate ideas and maintain clarity.
Quotation marks for dialogue: Dialogue is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate direct speech by characters.
Commas in dialogue: Commas are used to separate dialogue tags from the spoken words to clarify who is speaking and where the speech begins and ends.
Rephrasing and restructuring for clarity: Sentences are rephrased and restructured to enhance readability and comprehension of the sequence of events in the story.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2017
PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING TEXT, WHERE NECESSARY
“It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. Coach Lewis never lets me start the game!”
““It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. “Coach Lewis never lets me start the game!””
Quotation Marks: Quotation marks are used to indicate the direct speech by Martin.
Periods within Quotation Marks: Each statement within the quotes is punctuated with a period at the end to signify the completion of Martin’s sentences.
Maureen’s three sisters, Molly, Shannon, and Patricia are all spending the summer at their grandmother’s beach house.
“Maureen’s three sisters, Molly, Shannon, and Patricia, are all spending the summer at their grandmother’s beach house.”
Commas: Commas are added to separate the list of names (“Molly, Shannon, and Patricia”) from the rest of the sentence for clarity and to indicate a pause between the items in the list.
For the centrepieces, the florist recommended the following flowers daisies, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
“For the centerpieces, the florist recommended the following flowers: daisies, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.”
Colon: A colon is used to introduce a list or an explanation. In this case, it introduces the list of recommended flowers for the centerpieces.
Commas: Commas are used to separate the items in the list for clarity and to indicate individual elements within the list of flowers.
Lily is an accomplished gymnast she won three medals in her last competition.
“Lily is an accomplished gymnast; she won three medals in her last competition.”
Semicolon: A semicolon is used to connect two related independent clauses. It provides a stronger connection between the sentences than a period but less separation than using a period would indicate.
Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield – a studious, extremely bright high school senior decided that college was not for him
“Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield – a studious, extremely bright high school senior – decided that college was not for him.”
Em dashes: Em dashes are used to set off additional information or a parenthetical phrase within a sentence. They help to add emphasis or clarification to the description of Max Smithfield.
Hyphens: A hyphen is used in “high school” as a compound adjective to describe the senior.