Part-I MCQs: the 20 compulsory synonym and antonym questions of the CSS 2024 English (Precis & Composition) paper, with answers and meanings.

About these MCQs

These are the MCQs from the official FPSC paper. FPSC does not publish an answer key, so each answer comes with the word's meaning. Several 2024 items offer two correct-looking options (8 of 20 here); the note says so and gives the more usual key.

(a) Synonyms: nearest in meaning

1. UBIQUITOUS (A) Scarce (B) Present everywhere (C) Unique (D) Limited Answer: (B) Present everywhere. Found everywhere at the same time.

2. PERNICIOUS (A) Beneficial (B) Harmful (C) Lucid (D) Fervent Answer: (B) Harmful. Harmful, especially in a gradual or hidden way. "Beneficial" is the opposite.

3. MELLIFLUOUS (A) Grating (B) Smooth and sweet-sounding (C) Dissonant (D) Discordant Answer: (B) Smooth and sweet-sounding. Literally "flowing with honey": sweet and smooth to hear.

4. EPHEMERAL (A) Enduring (B) Eternal (C) Short-lived (D) Persistent Answer: (C) Short-lived. Lasting a very short time.

5. ASTUTE (A) Indifferent (B) Pensive (C) Stupid (D) Insightful Answer: (D) Insightful. Shrewd; quick to see and use an advantage.

6. ENTHRALL (A) Bore (B) Captivate (C) Fascinate (D) Disinterest Answer: (B) Captivate. To hold someone's complete attention. "Fascinate" is also a synonym; "captivate" is the closer and more common key.

7. SYCOPHANT (A) Admirer (B) Advocate (C) Critic (D) Flatterer Answer: (D) Flatterer. A person who flatters the powerful to win favour.

8. ASSUAGE (A) Aggravate (B) Intensify (C) Soothe (D) Alleviate Answer: (C) Soothe. To make pain, grief or anxiety less severe. "Soothe" and "alleviate" are both synonyms; "soothe" is the usual key, but (D) is equally correct.

9. RETICENT (A) Talkative (B) Loquacious (C) Vocal (D) Reserved Answer: (D) Reserved. Not inclined to reveal one's thoughts; reserved.

10. INCESSANT (A) Sporadic (B) Intermittent (C) Persistent (D) Halted Answer: (C) Persistent. Continuing without pause. "Persistent" is the only option that shares this sense.

(b) Antonyms: most opposite in meaning

11. ESOTERIC (A) Obvious (B) Understood by few (C) Extraneous (D) Common Answer: (D) Common. Esoteric knowledge is understood by a small circle only; its opposite is common, widely known knowledge. "Obvious" is also defensible.

12. SQUALID (A) Dirty (B) Wretched (C) Lavish (D) Clean Answer: (D) Clean. Squalid means filthy and run-down; clean is its direct opposite.

13. TACITURN (A) Loquacious (B) Voluble (C) Reticent (D) Silent Answer: (A) Loquacious. Taciturn means saying very little. "Loquacious" and "voluble" are both opposites; (A) is the usual key.

14. CONSTRICT (A) Tighten (B) Contract (C) Expand (D) Release Answer: (C) Expand. To make narrower or tighter; expand is the opposite movement.

15. LOQUACIOUS (A) Talkative (B) Silent (C) Reticent (D) Reserved Answer: (C) Reticent. Loquacious means very talkative. Dictionaries list "reticent" and "taciturn" as its antonyms, but "silent" and "reserved" are close, so expect differing keys.

16. INDOLENT (A) Lazy (B) Active (C) Lethargic (D) Energetic Answer: (D) Energetic. Indolent means habitually lazy. "Energetic" and "active" are both opposites; "energetic" is the stronger contrast.

17. COALESCE (A) Merge (B) Combine (C) Disperse (D) Separate Answer: (D) Separate. To come together and form one whole. "Separate" and "disperse" both oppose it; "separate" is the closer antonym, "disperse" the more vivid.

18. RANCOR (A) Animosity (B) Bitterness (C) Hostility (D) Amicability Answer: (D) Amicability. Rancour is long-lasting bitterness; amicability (friendliness) is the opposite.

19. ACQUIESCE (A) Comply (B) Resist (C) Agree (D) Deny Answer: (B) Resist. To accept something reluctantly without protest; to resist is the opposite.

20. DEBILITATE (A) Fortify (B) Weaken (C) Strengthen (D) Enervate Answer: (C) Strengthen. To make weak. "Strengthen" and "fortify" are both opposites; (C) is the plainer, more usual key.

How to prepare

Unlike 2025, the 2024 paper tested common GRE-style words (ubiquitous, ephemeral, sycophant, taciturn). The difficulty lay in items with two near-synonyms among the options, so learn each word's exact shade of meaning, not just a one-word gloss.