Q1:

Passage

Medium

Bibi Gulab Kaur was the leader of Ghadar Party in Manila, Philippines. She and her husband Mann Singh sailed from the Philippines to India in order to rally the masses against British tyranny. Besides spreading anti-British public sentiment, she distributed literature relating to freedom movement, arms and ammunition to the members of Ghadar Party. Under sedition charges, she was kept in the notorious Lahore Fort and tortured for two years.

Gulab Kaur was born in 1890 in the village of Bakshiwala in the Sangrur region of Punjab in a poor peasant family. She was married to Mann Singh. This was a time when many Punjabi farmers were expelled from their land by British policy. The couple departed for Manila, Philippines with the intention of emigrating to the United States of America in order to escape economic troubles in their own country.

Gulab Kaur joined the fight to oust the British in India and became one of the key Gadhar party members. She travelled around the Philippines in order to organise the Indian citizens. Moreover, she gathered weapons and funds for the party. She mobilised people in Manila and inspired them to join the party by distributing independence literature and delivering inspiring speeches to Indian passengers of ships.

The real aim behind the destructive act of supplying arms and ammunition to her people was suggestive of Gulab Kaur's:

Answer options
Option 1
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 1

Q2:

Passage

Medium

Bibi Gulab Kaur was the leader of Ghadar Party in Manila, Philippines. She and her husband Mann Singh sailed from the Philippines to India in order to rally the masses against British tyranny. Besides spreading anti-British public sentiment, she distributed literature relating to freedom movement, arms and ammunition to the members of Ghadar Party. Under sedition charges, she was kept in the notorious Lahore Fort and tortured for two years.

Gulab Kaur was born in 1890 in the village of Bakshiwala in the Sangrur region of Punjab in a poor peasant family. She was married to Mann Singh. This was a time when many Punjabi farmers were expelled from their land by British policy. The couple departed for Manila, Philippines with the intention of emigrating to the United States of America in order to escape economic troubles in their own country.

Gulab Kaur joined the fight to oust the British in India and became one of the key Gadhar party members. She travelled around the Philippines in order to organise the Indian citizens. Moreover, she gathered weapons and funds for the party. She mobilised people in Manila and inspired them to join the party by distributing independence literature and delivering inspiring speeches to Indian passengers of ships.

Gulab Kaur's activities in Philippines included all but:

Answer options
Option 4
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 2

Q3:

Passage

Medium

Bibi Gulab Kaur was the leader of Ghadar Party in Manila, Philippines. She and her husband Mann Singh sailed from the Philippines to India in order to rally the masses against British tyranny. Besides spreading anti-British public sentiment, she distributed literature relating to freedom movement, arms and ammunition to the members of Ghadar Party. Under sedition charges, she was kept in the notorious Lahore Fort and tortured for two years.

Gulab Kaur was born in 1890 in the village of Bakshiwala in the Sangrur region of Punjab in a poor peasant family. She was married to Mann Singh. This was a time when many Punjabi farmers were expelled from their land by British policy. The couple departed for Manila, Philippines with the intention of emigrating to the United States of America in order to escape economic troubles in their own country.

Gulab Kaur joined the fight to oust the British in India and became one of the key Gadhar party members. She travelled around the Philippines in order to organise the Indian citizens. Moreover, she gathered weapons and funds for the party. She mobilised people in Manila and inspired them to join the party by distributing independence literature and delivering inspiring speeches to Indian passengers of ships.

Gulab Kaur migrated to the Philippines in search of________

Answer options
Option 4
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 3

Q4:

Passage

Medium

Bibi Gulab Kaur was the leader of Ghadar Party in Manila, Philippines. She and her husband Mann Singh sailed from the Philippines to India in order to rally the masses against British tyranny. Besides spreading anti-British public sentiment, she distributed literature relating to freedom movement, arms and ammunition to the members of Ghadar Party. Under sedition charges, she was kept in the notorious Lahore Fort and tortured for two years.

Gulab Kaur was born in 1890 in the village of Bakshiwala in the Sangrur region of Punjab in a poor peasant family. She was married to Mann Singh. This was a time when many Punjabi farmers were expelled from their land by British policy. The couple departed for Manila, Philippines with the intention of emigrating to the United States of America in order to escape economic troubles in their own country.

Gulab Kaur joined the fight to oust the British in India and became one of the key Gadhar party members. She travelled around the Philippines in order to organise the Indian citizens. Moreover, she gathered weapons and funds for the party. She mobilised people in Manila and inspired them to join the party by distributing independence literature and delivering inspiring speeches to Indian passengers of ships.

Choose the correct synonym of the word Sedition as used in the passage.

Answer options
Option 1
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 4

Q5:

Passage

Easy

Donkeys may be the proverbial beast of burden, and the animal itself has come to symbolise a dimwit, someone of little value. But not all donkeys are created equal. The Halari donkeys, a breed native to Gujarat's Halar region, is not just valued, it is a VVIP.

The Halari donkey is a source of 'liquid gold', with its milk, valued for its distinctive properties, known to have sold for an astounding Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per litre at some online platforms.

But this acclaim comes with its own set of challenges. With fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remaining, the primary need is, of course, conservation. But the larger aim is not just increasing their numbers; it's about teaching farmers the best practices, so that they can command premium prices.

Recognising the pressing need for conservation, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) in Bikaner has started a dedicated programme to safeguard these animals. NRCE is also evaluating donkey milk for potential use in skincare products to sustain its value.

The Halari donkey is not just valued for its milk; its unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming. Their docile nature, combined with their adaptability to various climates, makes them ideal for small-scale farmers. They also have a much lower environmental foot-print, compared to larger livestock, requiring less feed and water. Infact, their grazing habits even help maintain grassland ecosystems.

The donkey is not commonly accepted as :

Answer options
Option 3
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 5

Q6:

Passage

Medium

Donkeys may be the proverbial beast of burden, and the animal itself has come to symbolise a dimwit, someone of little value. But not all donkeys are created equal. The Halari donkeys, a breed native to Gujarat's Halar region, is not just valued, it is a VVIP.

The Halari donkey is a source of 'liquid gold', with its milk, valued for its distinctive properties, known to have sold for an astounding Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per litre at some online platforms.

But this acclaim comes with its own set of challenges. With fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remaining, the primary need is, of course, conservation. But the larger aim is not just increasing their numbers; it's about teaching farmers the best practices, so that they can command premium prices.

Recognising the pressing need for conservation, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) in Bikaner has started a dedicated programme to safeguard these animals. NRCE is also evaluating donkey milk for potential use in skincare products to sustain its value.

The Halari donkey is not just valued for its milk; its unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming. Their docile nature, combined with their adaptability to various climates, makes them ideal for small-scale farmers. They also have a much lower environmental foot-print, compared to larger livestock, requiring less feed and water. Infact, their grazing habits even help maintain grassland ecosystems.

The Halari donkey is valuable due to the fact that it :

Answer options
Option 1
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 6

Q7:

Passage

Medium

Donkeys may be the proverbial beast of burden, and the animal itself has come to symbolise a dimwit, someone of little value. But not all donkeys are created equal. The Halari donkeys, a breed native to Gujarat's Halar region, is not just valued, it is a VVIP.

The Halari donkey is a source of 'liquid gold', with its milk, valued for its distinctive properties, known to have sold for an astounding Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per litre at some online platforms.

But this acclaim comes with its own set of challenges. With fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remaining, the primary need is, of course, conservation. But the larger aim is not just increasing their numbers; it's about teaching farmers the best practices, so that they can command premium prices.

Recognising the pressing need for conservation, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) in Bikaner has started a dedicated programme to safeguard these animals. NRCE is also evaluating donkey milk for potential use in skincare products to sustain its value.

The Halari donkey is not just valued for its milk; its unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming. Their docile nature, combined with their adaptability to various climates, makes them ideal for small-scale farmers. They also have a much lower environmental foot-print, compared to larger livestock, requiring less feed and water. Infact, their grazing habits even help maintain grassland ecosystems.

The passage highlights the fact that the need of the hour is:

Answer options
Option 2
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 7

Q8:

Passage

Easy

Donkeys may be the proverbial beast of burden, and the animal itself has come to symbolise a dimwit, someone of little value. But not all donkeys are created equal. The Halari donkeys, a breed native to Gujarat's Halar region, is not just valued, it is a VVIP.

The Halari donkey is a source of 'liquid gold', with its milk, valued for its distinctive properties, known to have sold for an astounding Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per litre at some online platforms.

But this acclaim comes with its own set of challenges. With fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remaining, the primary need is, of course, conservation. But the larger aim is not just increasing their numbers; it's about teaching farmers the best practices, so that they can command premium prices.

Recognising the pressing need for conservation, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) in Bikaner has started a dedicated programme to safeguard these animals. NRCE is also evaluating donkey milk for potential use in skincare products to sustain its value.

The Halari donkey is not just valued for its milk; its unique characteristics make it particularly valuable for sustainable dairy farming. Their docile nature, combined with their adaptability to various climates, makes them ideal for small-scale farmers. They also have a much lower environmental foot-print, compared to larger livestock, requiring less feed and water. Infact, their grazing habits even help maintain grassland ecosystems.

Identify the literary device used in the following sentence.

Halari donkey's milk is 'liquid gold'.

Answer options
Option 3
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 8

Q9:

Passage

Medium

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the 'Coach and Horses' more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!" He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in winter time was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no "haggler," and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune.

What 'good fortune' has struck Mrs. Hall?

Answer options
Option 2
Correct Answer
Explanation for 2025: 23 May Shift 2 ENG question 9

Q10:

Passage

Medium

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the 'Coach and Horses' more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!" He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in winter time was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no "haggler," and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune.

Complete the sentence with the appropriate option:

All these indicate the cold weather conditions except ________.

Answer options

Q11:

Passage

Medium

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the 'Coach and Horses' more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!" He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in winter time was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no "haggler," and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune.

The apparent mood of the 'stranger' was one of:

Answer options

Q12:

Passage

Medium

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the 'Coach and Horses' more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!" He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in winter time was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no "haggler," and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune.

Mrs. Hall makes a meal for the guest with her own hands because she is feeling:

Answer options

Q13:

Word Usage

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the appropriate words given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(A) Enjoy yourself fully but don't let enjoyment take ______ over work.(I) savour
(B) She threatened to ______ vengeance on her enemies.(II) precedence
(C) The ______ of Chandragupta is known as the golden period of Indian history.(III) wreak
(D) These days one is able to ______ food from any part of the world.(IV) reign

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q14:

Grammar

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the given sentences in List-I with the prepositions in List-II

List-IList-II
(Sentences)(Prepositions)
(A) The city has undergone massive demographic changes _____ the last twenty years.(I) upon
(B) The erstwhile prosperous farmers have, of late, fallen _____ evil days.(II) over
(C) The wounded animal flung itself _____ its tormentor.(III) at
(D) The child endured days of fear _____ the thought of being sent to a hostel.(IV) on

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q15:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) in the good books of his employer

(B) he has not been

(C) because he lacks honesty

(D) and can never be

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q16:

Word Usage

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the appropriate words given in List-II

List-IList-II
(Sentences)(Words)
(A) It is ______ for each citizen to pay income tax,(I) benevolent
(B) He is so ______ that there is no point trying to convince him.(II) respite
(C) This ______ business house has built many schools and hospitals.(III) adamant
(D) There is no ______ from the continuing cold spell.(IV) obligatory

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q17:

Phrasal Verbs

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the appropriate phrasal verbs given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(Sentences)(Phrasal verbs)
------
(A) People got ________________ by both the candidates during the election campaign.(I) make good for
(B) He was asked to ________________ the project before the deadline.(II) stand by
(C) You will have to ________________ this loss.(III) wrap up
(D) I shall ________________ you through thick and thin.(IV) turned off

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q18:

Word Usage

Medium

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence:

The way they weave carpets in this region is not ______ to the way they are made in the neighboring state.

Answer options

Q19:

Rearrangement

Easy

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) to keep their eyes on the ball

(B) to hold the club lightly

(C) and not to use too much force

(D) the instructor told the students

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q20:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) was submitted by me

(B) there was a vacancy for an assistant

(C) being given to understand that

(D) in the firm, an application

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q21:

Idioms

Medium

Match the idioms given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(Idioms)(Meanings)
(A) Chalk and cheese(I) faced with a choice between two risky courses of action
(B) A chip off the old block(II) to get or make something quickly
(C) Between the devil and the deep blue sea(III) very different
(D) Rustle something up(IV) someone who is very like one of his parents in personality

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q22:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) his role in the past election

(B) for misinterpretation, the senior politician

(C) offered clarification about

(D) leaving aside little room

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q24:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) the examination, the invigilator

(B) or indulging in any any other malpractices

(C) just before the commencement of

(D) instructed us to refrain from copying

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q25:

Word Usage

Easy

Match the words given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(Words)(Meanings)
------
(A) Maxim(I) study of the art of teaching
(B) Pedagogy(II) cause something bad to happen
(C) Instigate(III) small hard ball of anything
(D) Pellet(IV) an established principle

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q26:

Antonyms

Easy

Choose the correct antonym of the underlined word from the options given below:

The grim look on her face was anything but encouraging.

Answer options

Q27:

Word Usage

Medium

Match the words given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(Words)(Meanings)
(A) Bellicose(I) peculiar habit of a person
(B) Dyslexia(II) one who is fond of fighting
(C) Idiosyncrasy(III) no longer in practice
(D) Obsolete(IV) a learning disorder

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q29:

Word Usage

Medium

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the given sentence:

Due to peer pressure, children are spending ______ amount on branded clothes.

Answer options

Q30:

Antonyms

Easy

Choose the correct antonym of the underlined word from the options given below: The brazen women characters in his plays offered a pleasant change from the usual portrayal of women in the Elizabethan era.

Answer options

Q32:

Grammar

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the correct prepositions given in List-II

List-IList-II
(Sentences)(Prepositions)
(A) We must arm ourselves ______ the danger of chemical weapons.(I) of
(B) He was accused ______ murder.(II) with
(C) She blushed ______ the praise heaped upon her.(III) against
(D) He is really annoyed ______ me.(IV) at

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q33:

Idioms

Easy

Match the idioms given in List-I with their meanings given in List-II:

List-1List-II
(Idioms)(Meanings)
(A) Packed like sardines(I) an attempt to damage someone's reputation
(B) Make oneself scarce(II) crowded very close together
(C) A smear campaign(III) something said by mistake
(D) A slip of the tongue(IV) to run away or stay away

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q34:

Phrasal Verbs

Medium

Fill in the blanks in the given sentences in List-I with the appropriate phrasal verbs given in List-II:

List-IList-II
(Sentences)(Phrasal verbs)
(A) He promised to ________ the matter.(I) take up
(B) We would finish the work faster if everyone ________.(II) turn around
(C) I will surely ________ a new hobby during the summer break.(III) look into
(D) The ________ of company's fortunes after the new CFO took over is evident from the quarterly report.(IV) pitches in

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q35:

Word Usage

Medium

Fill in the blank with the correct option to form a meaningful sentence:

The convincing but __________ argument of the lawyer led to the accused's acquital.

Answer options

Q38:

Word Usage

Medium

Fill in the blank with the correct option to form a meaningful sentence:

The senior officer was __________ with the care of the new recruits.

Answer options

Q39:

Grammar

Medium

Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:

He is a miser _______ he spent lakhs on his daughter's marriage.

Answer options

Q40:

Word Usage

Easy

Choose the correct option to form a meaningful sentence: The government honoured the __________ to encourage their skills.

Answer options

Q42:

Synonyms

Medium

Identify the word closest in meaning to the underlined word from the options given below:

The acrimonious scenes at the board meeting depicted the members in a poor light.

Answer options

Q43:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) freedom is dialogue

(B) interchange of diverse ideas

(C) the essence of democratic

(D) and unhampered

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q44:

Synonyms

Easy

Identify the option closest in meaning to the underlined word from the options given below:
William Wordsworth said that poetry is a recollection of thoughts in tranquility.

Answer options

Q45:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) means to take a final

(B) to cross the Rubicon

(C) may have dangerous consequences

(D) irrevocable step which

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

Q48:

Word Usage

Medium

Choose the correct adjective to describe- A speech that is almost difficult to follow because the line of argument is very complex.

Answer options

Q49:

Rearrangement

Medium

Rearrange the following phrases in the right sequence to form a meaningful sentence:

(A) the experts were able to infer

(B) although partially destroyed

(C) the treasure was buried in the cave

(D) from what remained that

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer options

CUET English 2025 23 May Shift 2 Past Year Question Paper

Every question from the CUET English 2025 23 May Shift 2 paper is here in full, with the correct answer and a step by step solution for each one. It is completely free, there is no login and no paywall, and you can read the whole paper online or download it to revise offline.

You can also attempt it instead of only reading it. Take the paper as a full length mock under exam conditions, or filter it by topic and attempt just that topic as a topic test. Both are free, and you get a breakdown of your accuracy, your timing and your weak areas once you submit.

CUET English past year questions (PYQs) are the closest thing to the real exam, so working through them is the quickest way to learn the paper pattern, the marking scheme and the level of difficulty to expect on the day.