CDS 2026 (I) English, question 83

Topic: Similar sounding words

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Directions · Q81 to Q90

In the following items similar sounding words are given, followed by sentences wherein in each sentence one of these words has been used, and underlined. You are required to select those sentences in which these words have been used most appropriately and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Q83

pair, pear, pare

  1. My last pair of jeans don’t fit any more.

  2. Dessert was a delicious pear custard.

  3. They had to pare the novel down to make it into a two-hour film.

In which of the sentences given above has / have the word(s) been used correctly ?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 1 only
  3. (c) 2 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3Correct answer

Solution.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

  1. Pair means a set of two, and a pair of jeans is the standard phrase.
  2. Pear is the fruit, so pear custard is correct.
  3. Pare means to trim or cut down, so pare the novel down is correct.

Trap: Sentence 1 has a verb slip (don't should be doesn't, since pair is singular), but the item tests only the underlined word, which is used correctly.