CUET 2026 English May 24 Shift 1 Question Paper- Download Answer Key and Solution PDF

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks to find the synonym of the word ``offspring'' among the given options.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Define each word to determine which one is closest in meaning to the target word.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- ``Offspring'' refers to a person's child or children, or the young of an animal.

- Option (A) ``Ancestors'' refers to people from whom one is descended, which is the opposite of offspring.

- Option (B) ``Progeny'' refers to a descendant or descendants of a person, animal, or plant, making it a direct synonym for offspring.

- Option (C) ``Heritage'' refers to valued objects and qualities passed down through generations, such as historic buildings or cultural traditions.

- Option (D) ``Relatives'' refers to people connected by blood or marriage, which is a much broader term.


Step 4: Final Answer:

Therefore, the word closest in meaning to ``offspring'' is ``Progeny''.
Quick Tip: In vocabulary questions, look at the prefix and suffix of the words. For example, ``pro-'' in progeny often relates to moving forward or producing, which aligns with the concept of future generations.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the definition or meaning of the word ``recalcitrant''.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Analyze the contextual usage and synonyms of the word ``recalcitrant''.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- ``Recalcitrant'' describes someone who has an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.

- Common synonyms for this word include stubborn, defiant, rebellious, or uncooperative.

- Options (A) ``Helpful'', (B) ``Obedient'', and (D) ``Generous'' are positive traits and generally contrast with or are unrelated to the meaning of recalcitrant.


Step 4: Final Answer:

Thus, the correct meaning of ``recalcitrant'' is ``Stubborn''.
Quick Tip: The word recalcitrant comes from the Latin root ``recalcitrare'', which literally means ``to kick back''. This can help you associate the word with stubborn or resistant behavior.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks to identify the correct definition of the noun ``furtherance''.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Relate the root verb ``further'' to the noun form to deduce its meaning.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- The verb ``further'' means to help forward or promote.

- Adding the suffix ``-ance'' creates a noun that describes the state or action of promoting or helping progress.

- Hence, ``furtherance'' means the advancement or scheme of promoting a plan, interest, or policy.

- Options (A) ``Delay'', (C) ``Opposition'', and (D) ``Refusal'' act as antonyms or contrasting terms.


Step 4: Final Answer:

Therefore, the correct meaning of ``furtherance'' is ``Advancement''.
Quick Tip: Identifying the root word ``further'' can easily guide you to ``advancement'' because both imply moving forward or progressing.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

We need to check each given sentence for grammatical correctness, specifically looking at subject-verb agreement and auxiliary verb usage.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Analyze the subject and the verb of each sentence:

- Singular subjects require singular verbs.

- Plural subjects require plural verbs.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A) ``He do not play cricket.'' is incorrect. ``He'' is a singular subject, so it must take the singular auxiliary verb ``does''. The correct sentence is ``He does not play cricket.''

- Option (B) ``They has finished the task.'' is incorrect. ``They'' is a plural subject and must take the plural auxiliary verb ``have''. The correct sentence is ``They have finished the task.''

- Option (C) ``She enjoys reading novels.'' is correct. The singular subject ``She'' agrees with the singular verb ``enjoys''.

- Option (D) ``I were waiting outside.'' is incorrect. The first-person singular pronoun ``I'' takes the singular past tense verb ``was''. The correct sentence is ``I was waiting outside.''


Step 4: Final Answer:

The grammatically correct sentence is ``She enjoys reading novels.''
Quick Tip: Always double-check subject-verb agreement first when asked to find grammatically correct sentences, as this is one of the most common testing points.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

We need to convert the given active voice sentence into passive voice.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Identify the components of the active sentence:

- Subject: ``She''

- Verb: ``completed'' (Simple Past)

- Object: ``the project''

The structure of a passive sentence in Simple Past is:
\[ Object + was/were + past participle of verb + by + Subject (objective pronoun) \]


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Apply the passive conversion rule:

1. Bring the object to the front: ``The project''

2. Choose the correct auxiliary verb based on tense and number: ``was'' (since the project is singular and the active verb is in the past tense).

3. Write the past participle of the main verb: ``completed''

4. Add the preposition ``by'' followed by the object pronoun of the original subject (``she'' becomes ``her''): ``by her''

- This gives the sentence: ``The project was completed by her.''

- Option (A) lacks the auxiliary verb ``was''.

- Option (C) uses present perfect tense unnecessarily.

- Option (D) incorrectly uses present tense ``is'' and the subject pronoun ``she'' instead of the object pronoun ``her''.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The correct passive voice sentence is ``The project was completed by her.''
Quick Tip: Always preserve the tense of the active voice sentence. Since the original sentence is in the simple past tense, the passive voice must contain ``was'' or ``were''.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question tests the correct usage of the word ``suite'' as distinguished from ``suit''.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Determine the definition of each term to see which sentence uses ``suite'' correctly:

- ``Suite'' refers to a set of connected rooms, especially in a hotel.

- ``Suit'' refers to a set of outer clothes, a legal action in court, or a verb meaning to be appropriate or look good on someone.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A) uses ``suite'' incorrectly; it should be ``suit'' because it refers to clothing.

- Option (B) uses ``suite'' correctly to refer to a set of hotel rooms.

- Option (C) uses ``suite'' incorrectly; it should be ``suit'' because it refers to a lawsuit.

- Option (D) uses ``suite'' incorrectly; it should be ``suits'' as a verb meaning to look good on someone.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The correct sentence is ``We booked a luxury suite in the hotel.''
Quick Tip: Remember that ``suite'' is pronounced like ``sweet'' and is associated with hotel rooms, while ``suit'' is pronounced like ``soot'' and refers to clothing or law.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question tests the correct usage of the homophones ``council'' and ``counsel''.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Define each word:

- ``Council'' is an advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people.

- ``Counsel'' is advice, or a lawyer conducting a case in court.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A): ``The city counsel met yesterday.'' - Incorrect. It should be ``council'' because it refers to a local governing body.

- Option (B): ``She asked her teacher for counsel.'' - Correct. ``Counsel'' is used here to mean advice.

- Option (C): ``The council defended the criminal.'' - Incorrect. A defense lawyer (counsel) defends a criminal, not an administrative body (council).

- Option (D): ``The counsel passed a new law.'' - Incorrect. A legislative body (council) passes laws.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The sentence with the correct use of ``counsel'' is ``She asked her teacher for counsel.''
Quick Tip: To distinguish between the two: ``coun-cil'' ends with ``cil'' (like city, assembly), while ``coun-sel'' ends with ``sel'' (similar to sell or advice/selling services of a lawyer).

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

We need to identify the most suitable topic or introductory sentence to start a paragraph about digital education.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

The opening sentence of a paragraph should introduce the core theme independently. It should not contain transitional words or phrases that refer to prior arguments or events.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A) starts with ``Therefore'', which is used to introduce a conclusion. This implies preceding context.

- Option (B) starts with ``As a result'', indicating a consequence of an event mentioned earlier.

- Option (D) starts with ``Consequently'', which also shows a cause-and-effect relationship from prior context.

- Option (C) introduces a broad, independent statement about how technology affects education. This is a classic topic sentence and provides a logical start.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The most logical beginning sentence is ``Technology has changed modern education significantly.''
Quick Tip: Avoid choosing sentences that begin with transitional adverbs like ``therefore'', ``consequently'', ``however'', or ``as a result'' for introductory positions, as they require prior sentences to make sense.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks to identify the word that belongs to the noun part of speech among the choices.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Analyze the parts of speech of each word:

- Noun: Person, place, thing, or concept.

- Adjective: Describes a noun.

- Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A) ``Courage'' is an abstract noun denoting a quality or state of mind.

- Option (B) ``Quickly'' is an adverb ending in ``-ly'', which describes how an action is performed.

- Option (C) ``Honest'' is an adjective used to describe a person or a noun.

- Option (D) ``Beautifully'' is an adverb ending in ``-ly''.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The noun among the options is ``Courage''.
Quick Tip: If a word ends in the suffix ``-ly'', it is highly likely to be an adverb. If a word can follow ``the'' or ``possessive pronouns'' (e.g., ``my courage'', ``his courage''), it is a noun.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

We need to identify which word pair consists of homophones.


Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

Homophones are words that share the exact same pronunciation but differ in meaning, spelling, or both.


Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

- Option (A) ``Accept'' and ``Refuse'' are antonyms with different pronunciations and spellings.

- Option (B) ``Pale'' (light-colored or white) and ``Pail'' (a bucket) are pronounced exactly the same but spelled differently and have different meanings. This matches the definition of homophones.

- Option (C) ``Fast'' and ``Slow'' are antonyms with different pronunciations.

- Option (D) ``Council'' and ``Meeting'' are related concepts but do not share pronunciation or spelling.


Step 4: Final Answer:

The correct pair of homophones is ``Pale – Pail''.
Quick Tip: Say the words out loud. If they sound completely identical but mean different things and are spelled differently, they are homophones.