CUET 2026 English May 25 Shift 2 Question Paper- Download Answer Key and Solution PDF

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The given sentence is in the Active Voice: "The manager has approved the proposal."

We need to identify its correct passive voice form by applying standard tense conversion rules.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Identify the tense of the active sentence: The auxiliary verb "has" followed by the past participle "approved" indicates that the active sentence is in the Present Perfect Tense.

Recall the Passive Voice formula for Present Perfect Tense:

Active Voice: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3) + Object

Passive Voice: Object + has/have + been + past participle (V3) + by + Subject

Apply the formula to the sentence:

The active subject is "The manager".

The active object is "the proposal".

The verb phrase is "has approved".

When converted, "the proposal" becomes the new subject. Since "the proposal" is singular, we use the singular auxiliary "has been".

The past participle remains "approved".

Thus, the sentence becomes: "The proposal has been approved by the manager."

Analyze the incorrect options:

Option (A) "The proposal had been approved by the manager" incorrectly shifts the tense to Past Perfect ("had been").

Option (C) "The proposal is approved by the manager" incorrectly shifts the tense to Simple Present ("is approved").

Option (D) "The proposal was approved by the manager" incorrectly shifts the tense to Simple Past ("was approved").



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct passive form is Option (B).
Quick Tip: When converting sentences from active to passive voice, the grammatical tense must never change.
Always identify the main verb tense first: present perfect active ("has/have + V3") always transforms to present perfect passive ("has/have + been + V3").
This quick tense check will help you eliminate incorrect options in seconds.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The given sentence is in the Passive Voice: "The entire project was being monitored by the authorities."

We need to identify its correct active voice counterpart.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Identify the tense of the passive sentence: The auxiliary verb "was being" followed by the past participle "monitored" signifies the Past Continuous Tense in passive form.

Recall the Active Voice formula for Past Continuous Tense:

Passive Voice: Subject (original object) + was/were + being + V3 + by + Object (original subject)

Active Voice: Subject + was/were + present participle (V-ing) + Object

Apply the formula to convert to active voice:

The passive agent "the authorities" (plural) becomes the active subject.

Since the subject is plural, we use the plural auxiliary verb "were".

The main verb "monitored" is changed to its present participle form "monitoring".

The passive subject "The entire project" becomes the active object.

Thus, the active sentence is: "The authorities were monitoring the entire project."

Analyze why other options are incorrect:

Option (A) "The authorities monitored..." is in the Simple Past tense, which does not convey the ongoing past action of "was being monitored".

Option (B) "The authorities have monitored..." is in the Present Perfect tense, changing the timeline completely.

Option (D) "The authorities are monitoring..." is in the Present Continuous tense, changing the tense from past to present.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct active form is Option (C).
Quick Tip: Look for the presence of the word "being" in any passive sentence.
The word "being" indicates that the active sentence must be in a continuous tense (V-ing).
Since the auxiliary is "was" (past tense), the corresponding active sentence must be in the Past Continuous tense ("were monitoring").

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks us to identify the synonym (a word with the same or nearly the same meaning) of the word "Meticulous".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Definition of Meticulous: "Meticulous" is an adjective that describes someone who shows extreme, precise care, attention to detail, and thoroughness in their work or actions.

Analysis of Option (B) "Precise": The word "precise" means marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail. This matches the core meaning of being meticulous, making it the correct synonym.

Analysis of Option (A) "Careless": "Careless" means not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors. This is the direct antonym (opposite) of meticulous.

Analysis of Option (C) "Generous": "Generous" refers to a person showing readiness to give more of something (like money or time) than is strictly necessary or expected. It has no conceptual relationship with attention to detail.

Analysis of Option (D) "Humble": "Humble" means having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. It refers to humility, which is unrelated to being precise or detailed.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct synonym for "Meticulous" is "Precise", which is Option (B).
Quick Tip: To learn vocabulary effectively, group words with similar meanings together.
Synonyms for "Meticulous" include: "precise", "scrupulous", "painstaking", "diligent", and "fastidious".
Antonyms include: "careless", "negligent", "slapdash", and "sloppy".

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks us to identify the antonym (a word opposite in meaning) of the word "Transient".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Definition of Transient: "Transient" is an adjective used to describe something that lasts only for a very short time, is fleeting, or is impermanent by nature.

Analysis of Option (B) "Permanent": "Permanent" means lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely. This is the direct opposite of lasting for a short time, making it the correct antonym.

Analysis of Option (A) "Temporary": "Temporary" means lasting for only a limited period of time and not permanent. This is a synonym, not an antonym, of transient.

Analysis of Option (C) "Fragile": "Fragile" means easily broken, damaged, or vulnerable. While fragile things can be short-lived, the word itself is about structural weakness rather than duration.

Analysis of Option (D) "Flexible": "Flexible" means capable of bending easily without breaking, or able to modify or adapt to different circumstances. It has no relation to temporal duration.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct antonym of "Transient" is "Permanent", which is Option (B).
Quick Tip: Be careful not to select synonyms when the question asks for antonyms.
Common synonyms for "Transient" include "temporary", "ephemeral", "fleeting", "evanescent", and "transitory".
Common antonyms include "permanent", "perpetual", "enduring", and "eternal".

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks us to identify the correct figurative meaning of the common English idiom "Spill the beans".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Origin and Meaning of the Idiom: The idiom "spill the beans" is used in informal English to mean disclosing secret information, especially unintentionally or prematurely.

Analysis of Option (B) "To reveal a secret unintentionally": This is the standard, widely accepted definition of the idiom. For example, "We were planning a surprise party for him, but his sister spilled the beans."

Analysis of Option (A) "To waste food carelessly": This is a literal interpretation of the words "spill" and "beans". Idioms cannot be understood literally, so this option is incorrect.

Analysis of Option (C) "To create confusion in public": While revealing a secret might lead to confusion, the phrase itself does not mean creating public disorder or confusion.

Analysis of Option (D) "To avoid answering a question": This is the opposite of spilling the beans. Avoiding a question is closer in meaning to "beating around the bush" or "stonewalling".



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct meaning of "Spill the beans" is Option (B).
Quick Tip: Idiomatic expressions are figurative and should almost never be interpreted literally.
If an option describes the physical actions of the words in the idiom (like spilling actual food), it is almost always a distractor designed to mislead you.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks us to identify the correct definition of the phrasal verb "Call off".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Definition of Call off: "Call off" is a transitive phrasal verb that means to decide that a planned event, activity, or agreement will not take place. In other words, it means to cancel. For example, "They decided to call off the football match due to heavy rain."

Analysis of Option (C) "To cancel something": This definition perfectly aligns with the standard usage of the phrasal verb "call off".

Analysis of Option (A) "To postpone indefinitely": Postponing an event means delaying it to a future date, which is represented by the phrasal verb "put off" or "hold over". It is distinct from canceling ("calling off").

Analysis of Option (B) "To announce publicly": Publicly announcing or declaring something does not relate to calling off. Phrasal verbs like "bring out" or "put about" can sometimes relate to announcing, but not "call off".

Analysis of Option (D) "To call someone loudly": This is a literal interpretation of the words "call" and "off" (e.g., shouting to someone). It does not capture the idiomatic meaning of the phrasal verb.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct meaning of the phrasal verb "Call off" is Option (C).
Quick Tip: Do not confuse "call off" (to cancel) with "put off" (to postpone).
These two phrasal verbs are very common distractors for each other in competitive English exams.
Remember: "Call off = Cancel", "Put off = Postpone".

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question requires us to identify the sentence where the word "Issue" is used with correct grammar, syntax, and semantics.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Analysis of Option (B): "Pollution is a major issue in metropolitan cities." Here, the word "issue" is used as a noun meaning "an important topic or problem for debate or discussion." This usage is grammatically correct and semantically perfect.

Analysis of Option (A): "The teacher issued the importance of discipline." The verb "issued" means to supply, distribute, or publish something. One cannot "issue" importance; the correct verb should be "emphasized", "stressed", or "explained". Thus, this option is incorrect.

Analysis of Option (C): "He issue his opinion during the debate." This sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error. The subject "He" is singular, so the verb should be "issues" or "issued". Moreover, "to issue an opinion" is highly unidiomatic; "expressed" or "voiced" is standard. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Analysis of Option (D): "The issue of the book was very expensive." Here, "issue" is poorly used. If referring to a copy or edition, "edition" or "copy" should be used. If referring to the publication process, "printing" or "publishing" makes more sense. "The issue of the book was very expensive" is highly ambiguous and grammatically awkward in standard English.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct and natural usage of the word "Issue" is found in Option (B).
Quick Tip: The word "issue" can function as both a noun (meaning problem, concern, or edition of a publication) and a verb (meaning to officially distribute or release).
Always analyze both the part of speech and subject-verb agreement when evaluating correct word usage in sentences.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The sentence requires us to fill in the blank following the correlative conjunction phrase "No sooner ... than". We must apply the rules of grammatical inversion.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


The Inversion Rule: When negative or restrictive expressions like "No sooner", "Hardly", "Scarcely", or "Barely" are placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, they must be followed immediately by an auxiliary verb before the subject. This grammatical structure is known as subject-verb inversion.

Structure for "No sooner ... than":

The standard correlative structure is:

"No sooner + had + Subject + past participle (V3) + than + Subject + simple past (V2)"

Alternatively, "did" can also be used:

"No sooner + did + Subject + base verb (V1) + than + Subject + simple past (V2)"

Let us test the options against these structures.

Analysis of Option (B) "had we reached": This perfectly matches the primary inverted structure "had + subject (we) + past participle (reached)". This indicates that the action of reaching the station happened immediately before the train departed. This is the correct option.

Analysis of Option (D) "did we reach": While "No sooner did we reach" is grammatically possible under inversion rules, standard textbook English and exam boards prioritize the Past Perfect form ("had we reached") when describing two consecutive completed actions in the past. More importantly, when choosing the most appropriate option, the past perfect auxiliary "had" is preferred because it emphasizes the perfective aspect of the first action before the second began.

Analysis of Options (A) "we reached" and (C) "we had reached": Both options fail to invert the subject "we" and the verb. Thus, they violate the fundamental inversion rule triggered by starting a sentence with "No sooner".



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct and grammatically accurate option is Option (B).
Quick Tip: Always associate the following pairs:
- "No sooner" goes with "than".
- "Hardly / Scarcely / Barely" goes with "when".
All of these structures trigger subject-verb inversion: "No sooner had we..." or "Hardly had we...".

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks us to identify the synonym or word nearest in meaning to "Ubiquitous".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Definition of Ubiquitous: "Ubiquitous" is an adjective derived from the Latin word "ubique" (meaning "everywhere"). It describes something that is present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time. For example, "Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society."

Analysis of Option (B) "Omnipresent": "Omnipresent" combines the prefix "omni-" (all) with "present". It means widely or constantly encountered, or present everywhere at once. This is the exact equivalent and the word nearest in meaning to "ubiquitous".

Analysis of Option (A) "Rare": "Rare" means not occurring often, uncommon, or hard to find. This is the exact antonym (opposite) of ubiquitous.

Analysis of Option (C) "Fragile": "Fragile" means easily broken or damaged. This describes physical vulnerability and is entirely unrelated to physical or spatial presence.

Analysis of Option (D) "Artificial": "Artificial" means made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally. This is unrelated to how widespread or common something is.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct synonym for "Ubiquitous" is "Omnipresent", which is Option (B).
Quick Tip: "Omni-" is a high-frequency Latin root meaning "all" or "every".
Examples:
- Omnipresent (present everywhere)
- Omnipotent (all-powerful)
- Omniscient (all-knowing)
Recognizing roots helps you deduce meanings quickly in exams.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question requires us to identify the sentence that correctly applies the figurative meaning of the idiom "Burn the midnight oil".


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Meaning of the Idiom: "Burn the midnight oil" historically refers to burning an oil lamp late into the night to read or work. Today, it figuratively means to stay up very late working, studying, or intellectualizing.

Analysis of Option (B): "She burned the midnight oil to complete the research paper before submission." This sentence correctly uses the idiom. It implies that she stayed up late into the night studying/working to complete her academic paper. This aligns perfectly with the figurative meaning of the idiom.

Analysis of Option (A): "The workers burned the midnight oil to stay warm." This sentence tries to interpret the idiom literally as burning some substance (oil) to produce heat/warmth. This is incorrect.

Analysis of Option (C): "He burned the midnight oil while cooking dinner." This is a literal misinterpretation involving stove cooking or oil combustion in the kitchen, which does not represent late-night focused study or work.

Analysis of Option (D): "They burned the midnight oil during the power cut." This option literally interprets burning oil lamps as a source of backup illumination during a blackout. This is incorrect.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct and idiomatic usage is Option (B).
Quick Tip: To successfully solve sentence-based idiom questions, look for contexts involving hard work, intense studying, exam preparation, or completing projects late at night.
Avoid options that refer to actual burning, oil, fuel, stoves, heating, or lighting.