CUET 2026 May 31 Shift 2 English Question Paper - Memory-Based with Solutions

Sep 28, 2026

CUET 2026 May 31 Shift 2 English question paper (memory-based) with solutions focuses on core grammar and vocabulary skills tested in CUET. It explains correct answers for subject-verb agreement using “neither,” spelling accuracy for commonly confused words like “Occasion,” and idiom interpretation for “Too many irons in the fire.” The solutions also cover contextual word choice (e.g., “Lucid”) and error-free sentence construction with inversion patterns such as “Hardly had… when.”

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Grammar and Sentence Correction

Subject-verb Agreement (Neither)

Correct Spelling

Idiom Meaning

Contextual Vocabulary

Inversion and Conjunction Pattern

CUET 2026 May 31 Shift 2 English Question Paper (Memory-Based) with Solutions Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) 1. Choose the grammatically correct sentence. (A) Neither of the proposals were accepted by the committee. (B) Neither of the proposals have been accepted by the committee. (C) Neither of the proposals was accepted by the committee. (D) Neither of the proposals are accepted by the committee. Correct Answer: (C) Neither of the proposals was accepted by the committee. Solution: Concept: Questions involving subject-verb agreement are among the most frequently asked grammar questions in CUET English. The examiner often uses words such as neither, either, each, everyone, someone, and everybody because many students incorrectly identify the subject. The key idea is that Neither is grammatically singular and therefore takes a singular verb. Step 1: Identify the actual subject. The phrase given is: Neither of the proposals Many students incorrectly think that the noun proposals is the subject. However, the true grammatical subject is: Neither which is singular. Step 2: Determine the correct verb form. Since the subject is singular: Neither the correct verb must also be singular: was and not were or have Step 3: Evaluate all options. Option (A): Neither were Incorrect because of subject-verb disagreement. Option (B): Neither ... have Again incorrect. Option (C): Neither was Perfect agreement. Option (D): Neither are Incorrect. Step 4: Final conclusion. The only grammatically correct sentence is: Option (C) Quick Tip: Neither, Either, Each, Everyone, Anybody, Somebody, Nobody and Every are grammatically singular and take singular verbs. 2. Choose the correctly spelled word. (A) Ocassion (B) Occasion (C) Occassion (D) Ocassionn Correct Answer: (B) Occasion Solution: Concept: Spelling questions in recent CUET papers have included commonly confused words where one or two letters are deliberately altered to create distractors. The word Occasion is frequently misspelled because students become confused about the number of letters c and s. Step 1: Recall the correct spelling: Occasion Step 2: Break the word into parts: Oc + ca + sion Notice: • Double c • Single s Step 3: Analyze the options. Option (A): Contains only one c . Incorrect. Option (B): Correct spelling. Option (C): Contains double s. Incorrect. Option (D): Contains an extra letter. Incorrect. Hence, Option (B) Quick Tip: Frequently confused spellings: Occasion, Embarrassment, Accommodation, Questionnaire, Millennium, Rendezvous. 3. Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom “Too many irons in the fire”. (A) To work near a furnace (B) To have too many tasks or commitments at the same time (C) To waste resources carelessly (D) To be physically exhausted Correct Answer: (B) Solution: Concept: Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood by interpreting the individual words literally. Modern CUET papers often include idioms where all options appear plausible, making elimination difficult. Step 1: Read the idiom carefully. Too many irons in the fire If interpreted literally, it appears related to metalwork. However, idioms must be interpreted figuratively. Step 2: Understand the actual meaning. The expression refers to a person handling numerous projects, responsibilities, or commitments simultaneously. Such a person may become overwhelmed because attention is divided among many activities. Step 3: Evaluate options. Option (A): Literal interpretation. Incorrect. Option (B): Matches the accepted idiomatic meaning. Correct. Option (C): Unrelated. Option (D): Not the standard meaning. Step 4: Therefore, Option (B) Quick Tip: Never interpret idioms literally. Always focus on the figurative meaning developed th

FAQs

How do you choose the correct verb after “Neither of the proposals” in CUET English?

Treat “Neither” as grammatically singular, so the verb must also be singular (e.g., “was” instead of “were/have”).

Why is “Occasion” the correct spelling in the spelling question?

The correct option contains a double “c” and a single “s” as in “Occasion,” while the other options change letter counts or add extra letters to create distractors.

What does the idiom “Too many irons in the fire” mean, according to the solution?

It means a person is handling too many tasks or commitments simultaneously, which can lead to being overwhelmed.

Sep 28, 2026

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