JKSSB High Court 2026 Previous Year Questions

2026 Prelims English

Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?

A The student wrote that "Each of the experiments was successful."

B The student wrote "Each of the experiments was successful."

C The student wrote that each of the experiments was successful.

D None of the above

Correct Answer: Option A

The correct option is A) The library lost all its books.ExplanationOption A is correct: "Its" (without an apostrophe) is the possessive form of "it." (Note: "It's" with an apostrophe is a contraction for "it is" or "it has").Why the Other Options Are IncorrectB) That's anyones' guess. $\rightarrow$ Incorrect. The singular indefinite pronoun "anyone" takes an apostrophe before the s. The correct form is anyone's.C) That car is not your's. $\rightarrow$ Incorrect. Possessive pronouns (yours, his, hers, ours, theirs, its) never use an apostrophe. The correct form is yours.D) That car is not their's $\rightarrow$ Incorrect. For the same reason, the correct possessive pronoun is theirs (no apostrophe).

2026 Prelims English

Which of the following possessives is correctly punctuated?

A The library lost all its books

B That's anyones' guess.

C That car is not your's.

D That car is not their's

Correct Answer: Option A

The correct option is A) The library lost all its books.

Explanation

Option A is correct: "Its" (without an apostrophe) is the possessive form of "it." (Note: "It's" with an apostrophe is a contraction for "it is" or "it has").

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

B) That's anyones' guess. → Incorrect. The singular indefinite pronoun "anyone" takes an apostrophe before the s. The correct form is anyone's.

C) That car is not your's. → Incorrect. Possessive pronouns (yours, his, hers, ours, theirs, its) never use an apostrophe. The correct form is yours.

D) That car is not their's → Incorrect. For the same reason, the correct possessive pronoun is theirs (no apostrophe).

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word:

"The new Principal of the school is stern, yet he understands the needs of his subordinates."

A Flippant

B Lenient

C Desolate

D Noxious

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

Stern means strict, severe, or uncompromising in attitude or behavior.

Lenient means merciful, tolerant, or permissive, making it the direct opposite (antonym) of stern.

Meaning of Other Options

Flippant: Lacking proper respect or seriousness (e.g., a flippant remark).

Desolate: Deserted, empty, or feeling wretched and lonely (e.g., a desolate landscape).

Noxious: Harmful, poisonous, or unpleasant (e.g., noxious fumes).

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank:

"The friends decided to play cards to ____ time while waiting for the cab."

A ignore

B kill

C move

D Ease

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

The idiom "kill time" means to do something repetitive or casual to pass the time while waiting for an event or someone to arrive.

To kill time: The friends played cards to pass the time while waiting.

Why the others don't fit:

Ignore time isn't a natural English idiom in this context.

Move time is grammatically incorrect for passing duration.

Ease time isn't a standard collocation (you can "ease tension" or "ease pain," but not "ease time").

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank:

"The friends decided to play cards to ____ time while waiting for the cab."

A ignore

B kill

C move

D Ease

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

The idiom "kill time" means to do something repetitive or casual to pass the time while waiting for an event or someone to arrive.

To kill time: The friends played cards to pass the time while waiting.

Why the others don't fit:

Ignore time isn't a natural English idiom in this context.

Move time is grammatically incorrect for passing duration.

Ease time isn't a standard collocation (you can "ease tension" or "ease pain," but not "ease time").

2026 Prelims English

Fill in the Blanks with Correct Modals:

"Sheldon ____ to study more if he wants to pass the test."

A will

B may

C Ought

D shall

Correct Answer: Option C

The correct answer is C) Ought.

Explanation

Grammatical Structure: The blank is followed by "to study". Standard modal verbs like will, may, and shall take a bare infinitive (the base verb without "to"). For example, you would say "Sheldon will study" or "Sheldon may study".

Semi-Modal "Ought": Among the options given, ought is the only semi-modal verb that requires the preposition "to" after it (ought to), which expresses duty or advice.

The complete sentence is:

"Sheldon ought to study more if he wants to pass the test."

2026 Prelims English

Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for:

"A person who admires himself or herself too much, especially their appearance"

A Narcissist

B Egoist

C Selfish

D Dictator

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation

Narcissist: A person who has an excessive admiration of or fascination with themselves, particularly their physical appearance or capabilities.

Meanings of the Other Options:

Egoist: A self-centered or arrogant person who is primary focused on their own self-interest and importance (though not necessarily obsessed with physical appearance).

Selfish: Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.

Dictator: A ruler who has total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force.

2026 Prelims English

Identify the INCORRECTLY spelt word in the given sentence:

"One part of the philosophy of life's meaning consists of the systemetic attempt to identify what people have in mind when they think about the topic."

A attempt

B philosophy

C think

D Systemetic

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation

Incorrect Spelling: Systemetic

Correct Spelling: Systematic (spelled with an 'a' instead of an 'e' in the third syllable).

Meaning

Systematic means done according to a fixed plan or system; methodical and organized.

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of the given word - Confiscate:

A Titivate

B Restock

C Destroy

D Seize

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation

Confiscate means to take or seize someone's property, usually by legal or official authority.

Seize is a direct synonym meaning to take hold of, capture, or take possession of something legally or by force.

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined word:

"He walked leisurely towards the entrance."

A reassuringly

B hastily

C with a kickstart

D without haste

Correct Answer: Option D

The correct option is D) without haste.

Explanation

Leisurely means acting in an unhurried, relaxed, or calm manner (taking your time).

"Without haste" is a direct synonym, meaning moving slowly or without rushing.

Meaning of the Other Options:

Hastily: Done with excessive speed or urgency (the exact opposite/antonym).

Reassuringly: Done in a way that restores confidence or reduces anxiety.

With a kickstart: Done with a quick or forceful start.

2026 Prelims English

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.

"Everyone was surprised at his speech."

A His speech surprise everyone.

B His speech was surprising to everyone.

C His speech is surprising everyone.

D His speech surprised everyone

Correct Answer: Option D

The correct answer is D) His speech surprised everyone.

Explanation

Although the question prompt asks to transform the sentence, notice that the given sentence—"Everyone was surprised at his speech"—is already in the passive voice:

Subject (Receiver): Everyone

Verb: was surprised (past form of to be + past participle)

Prepositional Object (Doer): at his speech

Converting this sentence into the active voice:

The doer ("His speech") becomes the active Subject.

The passive verb construction ("was surprised") changes to the simple past form "surprised".

The receiver ("everyone") becomes the Object.

Active Voice:

"His speech surprised everyone."

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank:

"Luck does not always favour us, so we must always depend ____ our own efforts for success."

A Upon

B For

C In

D At

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation

Fixed Preposition Rule: The verb "depend" takes the preposition "on" or "upon" when expressing reliance or trust on something/someone (depend on / depend upon).

Why the others are incorrect:

"For", "In", and "At" do not form a grammatically correct prepositional phrase with the verb "depend" in this context.

Completed Sentence:

"Luck does not always favour us, so we must always depend upon our own efforts for success."

2026 Prelims English

Fill in the Blanks with Correct Modals:

"Raj hasn't studied well. He ____ fail his exam."

A can

B may

C could

D shall

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

May is used to express a strong possibility or likelihood based on present evidence ("Raj hasn't studied well").

Why not the others?

Can is used to show general ability or theoretical possibility, not a specific prediction based on a current situation.

Could implies a weaker or conditional possibility.

Shall is used for formal offers, promises, or future intentions, which doesn't fit a possibility of failing.

2026 Prelims English

Choose the sentence that requires an indefinite article before a noun.

A "He wants to be astronaut."

B "She is going to airport."

C "They visited temple."

D "I saw an elephant at zoo."

Correct Answer: Option A

The correct answer is A) "He wants to be astronaut."

Explanation

Indefinite Article Requirement (a / an): We use indefinite articles before singular, countable nouns when mentioning a profession, role, or job for the first time. Since "astronaut" begins with a vowel sound, it requires the indefinite article "an".

Corrected: "He wants to be an astronaut."

Why the other options are incorrect:

B) "She is going to airport." — Requires a definite article ("the") because it refers to a specific location destination ("going to the airport").

C) "They visited temple." — Typically requires a definite article ("the") when referring to a specific temple, though "a" is possible; however, option A strictly mandates an indefinite article by rule of professions.

D) "I saw an elephant at zoo." — Requires the definite article ("the") for common public places ("at the zoo").

2026 Prelims English

The following sentence has been divided into parts. Select the part that contains the error:

"Nine tenths / of the pillar / have rotted away. / No error."

A Nine tenths

B of the pillar

C have rotted away

D No error.

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation

Subject-Verb Agreement Rule: When fractions (like nine tenths, two thirds, half) or percentages are followed by an "of" phrase, the verb agrees with the noun that comes after "of":

If the noun is singular or uncountable, use a singular verb.

If the noun is plural, use a plural verb.

In this sentence, the noun following "of" is "the pillar" (singular).

Therefore, the singular verb "has" should be used instead of the plural verb "have".

Correct Sentence:

"Nine tenths of the pillar has rotted away."

2026 Prelims English

Select the option to improve the underlined segment:

"If I had played well, I would have won the match."

A I played well

B I play well

C I am playing will

D No improvement

Correct Answer: Option D

The correct answer is D) No improvement.

Explanation

This sentence is a textbook example of a Third Conditional, which is used to talk about impossible past situations and their hypothetical outcomes.

The standard structure for the third conditional is:

If-clause: If + Past Perfect (If I had played well)

Main clause: would have + Past Participle (I would have won the match)

Since the sentence already follows this grammatical rule perfectly, no changes are needed.

2026 Prelims English

Select the most appropriate meaning of the highlighted idiom:

"The youth involved in the accident escaped by the skin of his teeth."

A Barely managed to escape

B Very arrogant

C Always taking calculated decisions

D Deficiency of funds

Correct Answer: Option A

"By the skin of one's teeth" is an idiom that means barely or narrowly managing to do or avoid something, usually by a very small margin or distance.

2026 Prelims English

The following sentence has been divided into parts. Select the part that contains the error:

"He lived close to / the train station, / yet travelled by bus."

A yet travelled by bus

B No error

C He lived close to

D the train station

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The complete sentence—"He lived close to the train station, yet travelled by bus."—is grammatically correct.

"He lived close to": Correct use of the prepositional phrase "close to" indicating proximity.

"the train station,": Correct noun phrase acting as the object of the preposition.

"yet travelled by bus.": Correct use of the conjunction "yet" to show contrast, followed by the past tense verb "travelled" (maintaining tense agreement with "lived") and the correct preposition for modes of transport ("by bus").

2026 Prelims English

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech.

Raghav said to Meera, "Are you upset with me?"

A Raghav asked Meera if she was upset with her.

B Raghav asked Meera if she was upset with him.

C Raghav asked Meera if she was upset with me.

D Raghav asked Meera why she was upset with him.

Correct Answer: Option B

Why this is correct:

Reporting Verb: "said to" changes to "asked" because it's a question.

Conjunction: A Yes/No question in direct speech uses "if" (or "whether") in indirect speech (eliminating option D).

Pronoun Changes:

"you" refers to Meera, so it changes to "she".

"me" refers to Raghav, so it changes to "him" (eliminating options A and C).

Tense Change: Present simple ("Are") shifts to past simple ("was").

2026 Prelims English

Complete the dialogue for Person B using the correct idiom:

Person A: I am so nervous. I don't think I should make the speech tomorrow.

Person B: No. You are just getting ____. You have prepared for this.

A cold feet

B hot feet

C cold foot

D cold hand

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:

"To get cold feet" is a common idiom that means to become suddenly nervous or fearful about carrying out a planned action or undertaking (such as making a speech or getting married).

Idioms are fixed expressions, so variations like "cold foot" or "cold hand" are incorrect.

2026 Prelims English

Select the correct spelling of the incorrectly spelt word in the given sentence:

"The trainer tried to guage the learners' understanding of the subject by asking several new questions."

A Gauge

B Gaage

C Gaugg

D Gaaug

Correct Answer: Option A

The word misspelled in the sentence is "guage".

The correct spelling is "gauge" (with the a before the u), which means to measure, estimate, or judge a amount, degree, or capacity.

2026 Prelims English

Correct the underlined phrase:

"When we are came out of the restaurant it was half past eleven."

A When we had come out

B After we came out of the restaurant

C When we have come out of the restaurant

D No improvement

Correct Answer: Option A

"When we had come out of the restaurant it was half past eleven."

Why this is correct:

Grammar Error in Original: The phrase "are came" combines a present tense helping verb (are) with a past tense main verb (came), which is grammatically invalid.

Past Perfect Tense (had + V3): When talking about two past events or states, the action that happened first ("coming out of the restaurant") is expressed using the past perfect tense (had come), while the subsequent past state ("it was half past eleven") uses simple past.

2026 Prelims English

Fill in the Blanks with Correct Modals:

"____ you show me the road to the market?"

A might

B could

C may

D shall

Correct Answer: Option B

Why "could" is correct:

Polite Request: "Could you..." is standard English for making a polite, respectful request or asking someone for assistance.

Why other options don't fit:

May: Used for asking or giving permission (typically with "I" or "we", e.g., "May I..."), not usually to ask someone else to do something ("May you" is grammatically incorrect in standard requests).

Might: Extremely formal and tentative, rarely used to make direct polite requests.

Shall: Typically used for offers or suggestions involving the first person ("Shall I help you?" or "Shall we go?").

2026 Prelims English

Fill in the blanks with Correct Article.

"He is ____ captain of ____ team."

A the

B an

C a

D no article

Correct Answer: Option A

Why "the" is used in both places:

"the captain": Refers to a specific, unique title/role within a specific group.

"the team": Refers to a specific, contextually known team rather than any random team in general.

2026 Prelims English

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.

"Did you hear that noise?"

A Was that noise heard by you?

B Wasn't that noise heard by you?

C Has that noise been heard by you?

D Is that noise heard by you?

Correct Answer: Option A

Why this is correct:

Original Tense: "Did you hear..." is in the Simple Past Tense.

Passive Formula for Past Simple Questions: Was/Were + Subject (Object of Active) + Past Participle (V3) + by + Object (Subject of Active)?

Breakdown:

"Did" becomes Was (since "that noise" is singular).

The object "that noise" becomes the subject.

"hear" becomes its past participle, heard.

"you" becomes the object following by.

JKSSB High Court 2026 Previous Year Questions

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JKSSB High Court 2026 Previous Year Questions

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English 25 questions

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