The National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) exams are highly competitive and prestigious examinations in India, opening the doors for aspirants to join the armed forces. The English section in these exams is designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in language, comprehension, and grammatical accuracy. One significant topic within the English section is the Usage of Paired Words. This article delves into the importance of this topic for the NDA and CDS 2 2024 exams, emphasizing the necessity of a robust vocabulary, especially understanding homonyms, to tackle these questions effectively.
Understanding Paired Words
Paired words, often referred to as homonyms, are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings (homophones) or words that are spelled the same but have different meanings (homographs). Mastery of paired words is essential because it helps in avoiding common errors in usage and enhances overall language proficiency.
Directions: In the following questions a pair of similar sounding words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Q) Resign and Re-sign
(a) Resign means to leave and Re-sign means to play
(b) Resign means to quit your job and Re-sign means to sign a contract again
(c) Resign to built and Re-sign means to scribble something
(d) Resign means to intrude on something and Re-sign means to dwell on something
Ans. (b)
Q) Immolate and Emulate
(a) Immolate means to sacrifice and Emulate means to follow someone out of admiration
(b) Immolate means to burn and Emulate means to wear ornaments
(c) Immolate means to burn and Emulate means to simulate
(d) Immolate means to destroy and Emulate means to imitate
Ans. (a)
Q) Emigrate and Immigrate
(a)Emigrate means to illegally go to another country and Immigrate means to arrive at another country
(b)Emigrate means to arrive at another country and Immigrate means to leave for another country
(c)Emigrate means to leave for another country and Immigrate means to illegally enter a country
(d)Emigrate means to leave for another country and Immigrate means to arrive at another country
Ans. (d)
Q) Reward and Award
(a) Reward is compensation for effort and Award is prize for recognition
(b) Reward is prize for recognition and Award is compensation for efforts
(c) Reward is prize for recognition and Award is gift from someone
(d) Reward is gift from someone and Award is compensation for effort
Ans. (a)
Q) Accept and Except
(a) Accept means to exclude and Except means to agree
(b) Accept means to agree and Except means to extend
(c) Accept means to agree and Except means to exclude
(d) Accept means to extend and Except means to agree
Ans. (c)
For more questions, check out NDA-CDS 2 2024 Exam English Live – Usage of Paired Words – Class 2
Importance of Paired Words in NDA & CDS Exams
1. Foundation of Vocabulary
A thorough understanding of paired words is essential for building a strong vocabulary. It helps in distinguishing between words that sound or look similar but have different meanings, thereby avoiding common mistakes in writing and comprehension.
2. Error Detection
Questions related to error detection and correction are common in NDA and CDS exams. Identifying and correcting errors requires a solid grasp of paired words, as many errors stem from the misuse of these words.
3. Fill in the Blanks
Paired words often appear in fill-in-the-blank questions, where candidates need to choose the correct word based on context. Knowledge of homonyms is crucial to select the right word and avoid ambiguity.
4. Sentence Formation
Understanding paired words is critical for sentence formation and structure. It helps candidates construct sentences that are grammatically correct and contextually appropriate.
5. Reading Comprehension
A good grasp of paired words aids in better comprehension of reading passages. It helps candidates understand the context and nuances of sentences, leading to improved performance in comprehension questions.
Tips for Mastering Paired Words
- Regular Practice:
- Practice identifying and using paired words in sentences. Use exercises and quizzes to reinforce your understanding.
- Contextual Learning:
- Learn paired words in context rather than in isolation. Understanding how they are used in sentences helps in remembering their meanings and usage.
- Create a List:
- Make a list of common paired words and their meanings. Review and update this list regularly.
- Reading and Analysis:
- Read a variety of texts and analyze the use of paired words. Identify how different words are used in context.
- Use Mnemonics:
- Create mnemonics to remember the meanings of paired words. For example, “Affect is an Action, Effect is an End result.”
Conclusion
The topic of Usage of Paired Words is fundamental to mastering English vocabulary, making it a crucial area of focus for candidates preparing for the NDA and CDS 2 2024 exams. A solid understanding of paired words enables candidates to construct grammatically correct sentences, detect and correct errors, and comprehend reading passages more effectively. By regularly practicing and reinforcing their knowledge of paired words, candidates can enhance their overall performance in the English section, thereby increasing their chances of success in these prestigious examinations.
