The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is a prestigious assessment for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. In 2024, the English section of the CDS exam saw the introduction of new topics that challenged candidates with innovative question formats. This article explores these new topics, providing a comprehensive understanding of each and offering examples from the CDS 1 2024 English paper.
MATCHING LIST
This topic made its debut in the CDS English syllabus through the English paper for CDS 1 2024. Candidates are expected to be familiar with words borrowed from other languages into English and understand their meanings. These borrowed words, or loanwords, are terms taken from one language and integrated into another. English, which has a diverse history due to its multicultural evolution, has incorporated numerous loanwords, enriching its vocabulary and cultural scope. The adoption of loanwords often stems from English speakers’ historical, cultural, or economic interactions with other languages. The words included in the CDS 1 2024 English paper ranged from French to Latin, both of which have had a significant influence on the English language through their roles in religion, diplomacy, and royalty.
To answer the 5 questions based on this topic in the CDS 1 2024 paper, candidates were given the following instructions: “In the following items, two lists are provided with keywords. Match List-I with List-II and mark your response on the Answer Sheet using the code given below the lists.” An example question is presented below:
ADAPTATION OF BORROWED WORDS
This topic was added to the CDS English syllabus through the English paper for CDS 1 2024. The topic requires candidates to be familiar with words borrowed from other languages into English and understand their meanings. The words featured in the CDS 1 2024 English paper ranged from French to Latin, both of which have significantly influenced the English language due to their roles in religion, diplomacy, and royalty. To solve the 5 questions on this topic in the CDS 1 2024 paper, candidates were instructed: “In the following items, certain words borrowed into English from other languages are given. Select the most appropriate meaning from the provided options and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.” An example question is given below:
USE OF PHRASAL VERBS
This topic was introduced into the CDS English syllabus through the CDS 1 2024 English paper. It requires an understanding of various phrasal verbs in English and how to use them in sentences. Phrasal verbs are crucial in English, adding complexity and subtlety to communication. They are composed of a verb and one or more particles, often prepositions or adverbs, resulting in a new meaning distinct from the verb’s original sense. To tackle questions on this topic, candidates must grasp how and when to use phrasal verbs in different sentence contexts. In the CDS 1 2024 English paper, questions on this topic were presented in a Fill in the Blanks format. The instructions to solve the 5 questions on phrasal verbs were as follows: “In the following items, a sentence with a blank space is given. Fill in the blank with the correct phrasal verb from the provided options, and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.” An example question is provided below:
COMMONLY USED WORDS
This topic was introduced into the CDS English syllabus for the first time through the CDS 1 2024 English paper. It requires knowledge of various words, their meanings, and their usage in a specific context. Additionally, the topic emphasizes understanding how one word differs in meaning and/or usage from another word that has a similar pronunciation or spelling. The ‘Commonly Used Words’ section presents two sentences, each containing a different word, and the candidate must analyze their correct usage. To answer questions in this section, a thorough understanding of English vocabulary and advanced reading skills are essential. In the CDS 1 2024 English paper, the questions from this topic came with the following instructions: “In the following items, you are given two sentences, S1 and S2, where certain words are underlined. Carefully read the sentences, determine the correct usage of the words in each, and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.” An example question is provided below:
CORRELATING SENTENCES
This topic made its debut in the CDS English syllabus through the CDS 1 2024 English paper. It requires candidates to use logical reasoning and comprehension skills to compare, contrast, and analyze the relationship between two sentences. The goal is to determine whether one sentence supports, negates, expands, contrasts, confirms, defends, establishes, or delegitimizes the other, among other possible relationships. This section focuses more on reasoning and logical aptitude based on reading skills rather than English grammar or vocabulary knowledge. In the CDS 1 2024 English paper, questions on this topic were presented with the following instructions: “Below are pairs of sentences (S1, S2). Select the relationship of the second sentence to the first from the given options (a), (b), (c), and (d), and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.” An example question is provided below:
The introduction of these new topics in the CDS 2024 English exam demonstrates the evolving nature of the test. These topics not only test candidates’ language skills but also their logical reasoning and analytical abilities. Understanding these new topics is crucial for candidates preparing for future CDS exams.
