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) Desert and Dessert
(a)Desert means a very dry area of land and Dessert means starters
(b)Desert means sweets and Dessert means ice cream
(c)Desert means a very dry area of land and Dessert means last course of a meal
(d)Desert means last course of a meal and Dessert means a very dry area of land
Ans. (c)
Q) Eminent and Imminent
(a)Eminent means prominent and Imminent means inevitable
(b)Eminent means inevitable and Imminent means prominent
(c)Eminent means prominent and Imminent means prominent events
(d)Eminent means prominent people and Imminent means past events
Ans. (a)
Q) Exalt and Exult
(a)Exalt means glorify and Exult means mourn
(b)Exalt means enjoy and Exult means glorify
(c)Exalt means glorify and Exult means enjoy
(d)Exalt means enjoy and Exult means mourn
Ans. (c)
Q) Facetious and Factious
(a)Facetious means serious and Factious means a small group of like-minded people
(b)Facetious means funny and Factious means a small group of like-minded people
(c)Facetious means funny and Factious means a large group of diverse people
(d)Facetious means indecent and Factious means a small group of diverse people
Ans. (b)
Q) Flair and Flare
(a)Flair means to wear stylish clothes and Flare means style
(b)Flair means writing style and Flare means to wear stylish clothes
(c)Flair means sudden burst of light and Flare means talent
(d)Flair means talent and Flare means sudden burst of light
Ans. (d)
For more questions, check out NDA-CDS 2 2024 Exam English Live – Usage of Paired Words – Class 1
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.
