CREST English Olympiad (CEO)

Previous Year Paper (2023-24)

Class 10 (Set - A)
Time Allowed: 1 hour Maximum Marks: 60

● Additional 10 minutes will be allotted to fill up information on the OMR Sheet, before
the start of the exam.
● Fill in all the mandatory fields clearly on the OMR Sheet.
● There are a total of 50 questions in this booklet comprising 2 sections namely the
English Language & Achievers' Section consisting of 40 questions (1 mark each)
& 10 questions (2 marks each) respectively.
● There is no negative marking. The use of a calculator is not permitted.
● There is only ONE correct option to a given question.
● Use HB Pencil or Blue / Black ball point pen only for marking the correct choice of
answers on the OMR Sheet.
● Rough work is to be done in the space provided in the test booklet. An extra plain
sheet may be provided by the school for the rough work.
● The OMR Sheet is to be handed over to the invigilator at the end of the exam.
● No candidate is allowed to carry any textual material, printed or written, bits of paper,
any electronic device, etc. inside the examination hall.
● The use of unfair means may result in the cancellation of the exam. Any such
instances may be reported at +91-98182-94134 or [email protected]

DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL ASKED TO DO SO

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Candidate Name: ___________________________________________

Class: _________Section: ____________________________________
CREST ID: _______________________________________________
 English Language (Each Question is 1 Mark)
1. Choose the synonyms for the word in S: leading to a dull, dry and
quotes: 6: lifeless complexion.
James Anderson had 'penchant' for hook
shots. a. S Q P R b. P R S Q
c. R S Q P d. Q P R S
a. art b. inclination
c. strength d. desire 6. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
the blank:
2. Choose the antonym for the word in The police _____ into action on receiving
quotes: telephone call yesterday.
'Modesty' is a virtue, but it must not be
allowed to be exploited. a. swang b. swung
c. swing d. swings
a. reserve b. boldness
c. mildness d. humility 7. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
the blank:
3. Find the correctly spelt word: Sporadic gunfire ________________
each night.
a. ebulient b. jubilant
c. iminent d. tolerent a. reports b. was reported
c. has been reports d. had reported
4. Read the jumbled parts of the sentences.
The first and the last parts are written for 8. Punctuate the following sentence:
you. Find out which of the four oh dear I am tired today.
combinations is correct:
a. Oh, dear I am tired today.
1: Inspite of an unprecedented boom in b. Oh dear! "I am tired today."
the market c. Oh dear! 'I am tired today.'
P: and had to remain content d. Oh dear! I am tired today.
Q: the paper-dealer could not
R: push up his sales 9. Punctuate the following sentence:
S: with a volume of sale lower than o yes I like singing you like dancing.
6: what he had sold the previous year.
a. O yes, I like singing; you like
a. Q R P S b. S P R Q dancing.
c. P R Q S d. R P S Q b. O yes I like singing; you like dancing.
c. O yes, I like singing, you like
5. Read the jumbled parts of the sentences dancing.
The first and the last parts are written for d. O yes!, I like singing; you like
you. Find out which of the four dancing.
combinations is correct:
10. The same word is used in two
1: Moisture is continuously lost sentences. Identify the option where the
P: and as result of the stresses same word has the same meaning:
Q: as part of a natural process
R: and strains of daily life

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 a. He can type over 100 words per Clara: Eureka! I will be meeting my
minute. deadline.
That guy is really not her type. Jenny: You will be given some more
b. You were right. work.
Access to clean water is a basic Clara: Nay! ___________________
human right. Jenny: This is a testing time for all of us.
c. The children love to play with the We will have to slog.
leaves.
Rex does not like when his father a. I am just half-way through.
leaves for work. b. I am head-over-heel on it.
d. The students were very engaged in c. I am through with it.
the presentation. d. I am right under.
The magician engaged the kids with
his tricks. 15. Choose the most suitable option which is
not an interrogative response to fill in the
11. Combine the sentences by changing the blank:
adjective to a noun. Choose from the Daughter: I think I'll go on a holiday with
following: my friend.
"Roger Federer is famous. It gets him Mother ordered: __________________
numerous advertising contracts."
a. Will her parents approve?
a. Roger Federer's famed career gets b. You'll do nothing of that sort.
him numerous advertising contracts. c. When are you planning to go?
b. Roger Federer's familiality gets him d. Don't you think that's rather
numerous advertising contracts. dangerous?
c. Roger Federer's famousness gets
him numerous advertising contracts. 16. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
d. Roger Federer's fame gets him the blank:
numerous advertising contracts. Ashley: "Carlos's loving his new job in
Dubai."
12. Choose the most appropriate option to fill Sophia: "What? I didn't __________
in the blank: abroad!"
Sharon is throwing a party on Saturday.
She ___________ finished her PhD. a. even know he was living
b. even knew he is living
a. finally b. vaguely c. know he has lived
c. easily d. slowly d. know he does live

13. Choose the most suitable option to fill in 17. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
the blank based on a famous quote: the blank:
_______ are the sugar of literature and It rained heavily. Only ______ children
_______ the salt. came to school.

a. Adjectives, adverbs a. a few b. a little

b. Adverbs, adjectives c. many d. much
c. Nouns, pronouns
d. Pronouns, nouns 18. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
the blank:
14. Choose the most suitable option to fill in Sam was delighted to see a wedge of
the blank: ________.

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 a. lion b. geese a. simple present tense
c. dogs d. wolves b. future perfect continuous tense
c. future perfect tense
19. Choose an appropriate answer: d. simple future tense
It's hard to hold my temper with the kids
after being kept awake by them all night 24. Fill in the blank with appropriate modal
long. 'Hard to hold one's temper' means: verb:
It's a hospital. You ____________
a. to stay awake smoke
b. to be calm
c. to maintain energy levels a. wouldn't b. couldn't
d. to hold something slippery c. mustn't d. may not

20. Fill in the blank with the correct option: 25. Choose the sentence which has the
The doctor's prescription is __________. correct usage of quotes:

a. unpleasant b. indecipherable a. She said, "I quote from his letter, 'I
c. unreliable d. illogical agree with Kipling that "the female of
the species is deadlier than the
21. What does the following quote mean? male," but the phenomenon is not an
My mama always said, life was like a box unchangeable law of nature,' a
of chocolates. You never know what you remark he did not explain."
gonna get. b. She said, 'I quote from his letter, 'I
agree with Kipling that 'the female of
a. Things do happen in life the species is more deadliest than
unexpectedly. the male,' but the phenomenon is not
b. Life is a mystery. an unchangeable law of nature,' a
c. You never know when you would find remark he did not explain.'
things lost a while ago. c. She said, "I quote from his letter, 'I
d. You lose people in life's journey. agree with Kipling that 'the female of
the species is more deadly than the
22. Rearrange the words to form a males,' but the phenomenon is not
meaningful sentence: an unchangeable laws of nature,' a
into / can / exercise / activity / remark he did not explain."
incorporate / any / one d. She said, "I quote from his letter, 'I
agree with Kipling that "the females
a. One can incorporate activity into any of the species is more deadly than
exercise. the male", but the phenomena is not
b. Any one activity can incorporate into an unchangeable law of nature,' a
exercise. remark he did not explain".
c. Into any activity one can incorporate
exercise. 26. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
d. One can incorporate exercise into the blank:
any activity. The scissors _____ blunt.

23. Read the given sentence and identify the a. was

tense: b. is
By this time tomorrow, I shall have c. are
reached my home. d. all of the above

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27. Choose the most suitable option to fill in a. a, a, a, the
the blank: b. a, an, a, the
Because I had to catch the train, and as c. a, an, a, a
we ______ short on time, I forgot to pack d. a, the, a, the
my toothbrush for our vacation.
33. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
a. have been b. had had been the blank:
c. were d. are There is no ___________ AIDS yet.

28. Choose the most suitable option to fill in a. cure of b. cure for
the blank: c. cure on d. cure from
You ______ be serious about swimming
outdoors in winter. 34. Complete the sentence using the most
appropriate option:
a. would b. could Elwin's mother asked him ___________
c. might d. can't
a. on what he was writing about
29. Choose the most suitable option to fill in b. what he was writing about
the blank: c. on what he were to write about
Plants ______ have sunlight in order to d. on what he were writing about
make food.
35. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
a. must b. may the blank:
c. will d. can By this time next Saturday, I
_____________ all my exams.
30. Choose the most suitable option to fill in
the blank: a. will be finishing
What's the worst that could happen if you b. have been finishing
____________ your boss your computer c. will have finished
password? d. must have finished

a. hadn't told b. didn't told 36. Read the passage and answer the
c. shouldn't tell d. don't tell question:
In front of the house, there was a beach.
31. Spot the error: Peter liked to stretch on the sand when
My father always likes to travel by the air the Sun was warming it. From the back
since he is a very busy man. door of the house, he would walk along a
path as far as the sand, and stand at the
a. by the air water's edge looking at the sea. When
b. is a very busy nothing very interesting was happening
c. likes to travel on the water, he would go down on his
d. no error knees and take a handful of sand.
Through his fingers ran the sand until
32. Choose the most suitable option to fill in only small stones and shells were left.
the blank: Then, with a large sweep of his arm and
Educate ____ man and you educate will as much strength as he could
______ individual. Educate _____ muster, Peter would throw the shells
woman and you educate _____ family. away as far as he could.
At other times, he would go on his back
and gaze up at the clouds, his hands idly

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 searching the sand at his sides. He When did cats lose much of their appeal
never stopped playing with the sand and and connected with devil worship?
feeling it run through his fingers,
however much he was absorbed by the a. the 11th century
changes in the clouds. b. during Colonial times
Occasionally, some fishing boats came c. in the Middle Ages
close enough to the beach for Peter to d. during the twentieth century
see what the fishermen were doing.
Then with his hands clasped, he would 38. Which of the following options is
look and look, while his whole body grammatically correct?
moved with the boat from side to side.
When the fisherman drew in their nets or a. Who come to the class yesterday?
cast them into the water, Peter would do b. I am having two brothers and one
the same with an imaginary net of his sister.
own his place on the beach. On this c. That is what I say. She is very
small beach, Peter had a world of his arrogant.
own. d. I cannot cope up with this workload.

What did he do with the stones and Direction (for questions 39-40): Read the
shells left in his hands? passage and answer the question:
Sails are usually found on boats. But even
a. put them in his collection at home without a boat, a sail can be useful. In the
b. threw them away as far as he could winter, you can use a sail when you are on ice
c. buried them in the sand as he gazed skates. If the ice is smooth and there is a good
at the sky wind, you can have lots of fun. The sail will
d. threw them at the clouds propel you across the ice at great speeds. You
can use it at other times of the year too. Try
37. Read the passage and answer the using one when you're on roller skates or on a
question: skateboard. If you have a surfboard or a small
Cats have a long and interesting history. rowboat, you can also have fun with a sail.
In fact, the cat was probably the first To make a sail, you need a double bed sheet
animal to be domesticated. The and T-shaped frame. Put the frame together
Egyptians worshipped cats. In Europe, from two light sticks. Sew your bed sheet to the
cats were praised for their ability to catch frame. It will look like a triangle when it is
rats and mice. They were much in finished. As a rule, the sail should be as tall as
demand during the Black Plague illness you. Quite a lot of sewing is needed. You may
of the 11th century. need someone to help you with the sewing.
In the middle ages, cats lost much of ow long you hold the sail is up to you. Put
their appeal because they became handholds where you want them or just hold on
connected with devil worship. Many cats to the frame. To use it with a boat or surfboard,
lost their lives and gave rise to rig up a kind of mast and attach your sail to it.
superstitions still held by some people
today. 39. The main point of the first passage is
The American Indian did not appear to that ___________________.
keep cats as pets, so it wasn't until the
white settlers who came from Europe a. people can make sailboats
that cats were kept as pets in America. b. you must learn to sew
The Colonists, like the Europeans, found c. a sail has many uses
cats helpful in controlling rats and mice. d. roller skating is fun

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40. Which of the following inferences can't c. The sail helps in propelling across
be drawn from the passage? the ice at great speeds.
d. You can have a lot of fun with sail
a. It is advisable to have sail as tall as even if the wind is not good.
yourself.
b. You need a double bed sheet and T-
shaped frame to make a sail.

Achievers’ Section (Each Question is 2 Marks)

41. Choose the antonym for the word in c. to another
quotes: d. he has not
A character without a 'blemish' is a
virtue of a leader. 46. Identify the correct spelling:

a. stigma b. adornment a. convalesent b. convalescent

c. atrix d. blot c. convalsent d. convalecent

42. Find the correctly spelt word: Direction (for questions 47 to 50): Read the
passage and answer the question:
a. qstalt b. imbrolios
c. ampasse d. recondite True, it is the function of the army to maintain
law and order in abnormal times. But in normal
43. Choose the correct word to fill in the times, there is another force that compels
blank: citizens to obey the laws and to act with due
A violent _________ broke out regard to the rights of others. The force also
between police and demonstrators. protects the lives and the properties of law
abiding men. Laws are made to secure the
a. scuffle b. crux personal safety of its subjects and to prevent
c. scuffling d. cortège murder and crimes of violence. They are made
to secure the property of the citizens against
44. Choose the correct meaning of the theft and damage to protect the rights of
idiom given in quotes: communities and castes to carry out their
The party stalwarts have advised the customs and ceremonies, so long as they do
President to take it "lying down" for a not conflict with the rights of others.
while. Now the good citizen, of his own free will obey
these laws and he takes care that everything
a. to show no reaction he does is done with due regard to the rights
b. to take rest and well-being of others. But the bad citizen is
c. to be on the defensive only restrained from breaking these laws by
d. to be cautious fear of the consequence of his actions. And
the necessary steps to compel the bad citizen
45. Spot the error: to act as a good citizen are taken by this force.
Order has been issued for his transfer The supreme control of law and order in a
to another district but he has not State is in the hands of a Minister who is
received them so far. responsible to the State Assembly and acts
through the Inspector General of Police.
a. transfer to
b. order has

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47. The expression 'customs and c. A criminal is deterred from
ceremonies' means committing crimes only for fear of
the law.
a. fairs and festivals d. The forces of law help to transform
b. habits and traditions irresponsible citizens into
c. usual practices and religious rites responsible ones.
d. superstitions and formalities
50. According to the writer, which one of
48. A suitable title for the passage would the following is not the responsibility of
be: the police?

a. The Function of the Army a. to protect the privileges of all

b. Laws and People's Rights citizens
c. The fear of the Law and Citizen's b. to check violent activities of
Security citizens
d. The Functions of the Police c. to ensure peace among citizens by
safeguarding individual rights
49. Which of the following is not implied in d. to maintain wartime activities during
the passage? extraordinary circumstances

a. Law protects those who respect it.

b. Law ensures people's religious and
social rights absolutely and
unconditionally.

Answer Key
1. b 2. b 3. b 4. a 5. d 6. b 7. b 8. d 9. a 10. d
11. d 12. a 13. a 14. a 15. b 16. a 17. a 18. b 19. b 20. b
21. a 22. d 23. c 24. c 25. a 26. c 27. c 28. d 29. a 30. d
31. a 32. c 33. b 34. b 35. c 36. b 37. c 38. c 39. c 40. d
41. b 42. d 43. a 44. a 45. b 46. b 47. c 48. d 49. b 50. d

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