PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Directions (Q. 1 - 5): A sentence is given with a blank space, indicating that one word has been omitted from it. Select the word that closely fits within the blank, thereby making the sentence meaningful and grammatically correct.
1. The tales of Panchatantra are very old and have a long tradition of being passed on from .......... to generation.
A) imagination B) creation C) generation D) compulsion E) nation
Explanation: The words ‘tradition’ and ‘passed’ are the key words here to answer the question. ‘Tradition’ means customs and beliefs of different sects of community.
Those customs and beliefs can be transferred from one generation to another generation.
Ans: C
2. ........... Western lifestyles don't allow people to have the time or head space to really relax.
A) Rapid B) Unhealthy C) Hectic D) Sluggish E) Nomadic
Explanation: As per the given sentence, the Western people don’t have time to relax.
That means their schedule is full and busy with many activities to do. The word ‘hectic’ suits best to describe that situation.
Ans: C
3. In the early 2000s, dozens of the world’s premier experts on sports-related concussions started meeting to ......... studies about concussions.
A) review B) ponder C) establish D) concentrate E) grasp
Explanation: The word ‘studies’ is the key word here. In the sentence, many experts started meeting to discuss about something based on some studies. Those studies must be ‘reviewed’ to come to any conclusion regarding the issue.
Ans: A
4. Some of these lecturers carry out research in their fields only for their monetary benefits and they seldom apply their newly ........ skills and knowledge in the classroom teaching.
A) got B) obtained C) routine D) acquire E) designed
Explanation: We can solve this question by using tenses topic here. The adverb ‘newly’ in the sentence determines that some new thing has learned earlier. So, the verb should be in past tense. From the given options, the past verb ‘obtained’ suits best in the sentence.
Ans: B
5. Lord Kubera .......... his army of cooks to produce more food but they could not keep pace with Ganesha’s eating frenzy.
A) pleaded B) pardoned C) accustomed D) ordered E) requested
Explanation: Lord means King. A king can get anything he wants just by ordering them.
Ans: D
Directions (Q. 6 - 10): In each of the following questions, a paragraph is given, containing two blanks. Four words follow the paragraph as options for the blanks. Choose the option with the correct combination of two words which can fit in the two blanks (In the same order) to make the paragraph coherent.
6. Warren Buffett is often asked what types of companies he will purchase in the future. First, he says, I will avoid ........ businesses and managers that I have little confidence in. He has three .........: It must be the type of company that he understands, possessing good economics, and run by trustworthy managers.
A. commodity B. touchstones C. compensation D. repudiate
A) AB B) AC C) BD D) DC E) AD
Explanation: The term ‘commodity businesses’ refer to those companies that can only be competitive in the market if they manage to reduce the prices of its products. Warren Buffet doesn’t like to invest in these types of companies citing financial risks. The term ‘touch stone’ refers to a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized.
Ans: A
7. Though closely related to studies of both economic and political development, modernization ........ and research also focused on forms of personal development that ......... related to cultural development.
A. theory B. are C. were D. has
A) AB B) AC C) BD D) DC E) AD
Explanation: The word ‘research’ helps to find the answer to the first blank. Researches can be done based on theories. So, the word ‘theory’ is the correct answer for the first blank. The whole sentence is in past tense. So, the verb used in the sentence should also be a past verb. So, the past verb “were” suits best in the second blank.
Ans: B
8. The real crisis of Ukraine is that it is caught in a game of one-upmanship between the West and Russia. The West wants to punish Russia for its ........... of Crimea and for helping separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Moscow, on the other hand, sees Western ......... in the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, and seems determined to resist the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s outreach to its backyard.
A. annexation B. involvement C. obedience D. reinforcement
A) CD B) BC C) AC D) AB E) None of the above
Explanation: The word ‘annexation’ refers to a unilateral act of a state/ country (here Russia) through which it proclaims its sovereignty over the territory of another state/ country (here Ukraine). In this issue Western countries are also involving in support of Ukraine.
Ans: D
9. Much comparative theorizing argued or ......... that an educated citizenry was essential for the establishment and maintenance of a political democracy. In this context the United States was often ........... as a country that both expanded schooling and political democracy relatively early in its history.
A. example B. cause C. invoked D. presupposed
A) AB B) AC C) BD D) DC E) AD
Explanation: The words ‘theorized’ and ‘presupposed’ are similar words. The conjunction ‘or’ present in between these words suggest that it is the correct usage. The word ‘invoke’ means “cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument”. So, option 4 is the correct choice.
Ans: D
10. Taken as a whole these findings suggest the ........... of knowledge claims linking scientization in education and the growth of the economy. However, much more research is needed to test the ........... of the general claim.
A. necessity B. plausibility C. suggestions D. implications
A) AB B) AC C) BD D) DC E) AD
Explanation: The word ‘plausible’ means "reasonable" or "believable. The word ‘implication’ refers to a conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
Ans: C
Directions (Q. 11 - 14): In question below, a small paragraph is given with two words missing. You are given five options each containing a pair of words that can or cannot be filled in the blanks to make the paragraph contextually and grammatically correct. Identify the correct choice and mark the option accordingly. 11. We know that in a narrow sense, the Higher Education System .......... colleges and universities and the activities like instruction and ........... of knowledge and skills and research work carried on at these places.
I. comprising, suppress II. incorporated, restricting III. includes, imparting
A) Only I B) II, III C) Only III D) Only II E) None of the above
Explanation: The first sentence is in simple present tense and the noun (Higher education system) used there is third person singular. So, the verb coming next should contain the suffix ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ after the verb.
Ans: C
12. The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has proposed certain changes to some ......... of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985. The recommendations have ........ importance in the backdrop of some high-profile drug cases including the recent arrest of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan.
I. suspicions, plumed II. indulgence, authentic III. provisions, assumed
A) Only I B) II, III C) Only III D) Only II E) None of the above
Explanation: Union government can propose any changes to the laws that are passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The word ‘provision’ means the action of providing or supplying something for use, rightly describe the whole scenario.
Ans: C
13. One of the recommendations of the Ministry is to decriminalise the .......... of narcotic drugs in smaller quantities for personal purposes. Another suggestion is that the persons using drugs in smaller quantities will be treated as victims. However, there is a need to understand the underlying reasons for widespread drug abuse in India and then take ........... actions.
I. abandon, restricted II. possession, comprehensive III. companion, demonstrate
A) Only III B) Only II C) Only I D) II, III E) None of the above
Explanation: The sentence refers to a law regarding the possession of drugs. The word ‘possession’ means ‘to have’ or ‘to own’. The word comprehensive means “including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something”.
Ans: B
14. On account of the government’s inaction to file a detailed ........ to the allegations made by the petitioners, the Court has constituted a ............ of experts under former SC judge Justice R.V.Raveendran.
I. response, panel II. requesting, cube III. foundation, encouragement
A) Only I B) II, III C) Only III D) Only II E) None of the above
Explanation: For the first blank in the given sentence, the word ‘response’ gives an accurate meaning to the sentence out of the given options. A panel refers to a small group of people chosen to give advice, make a decision, or publicly discuss their opinions regarding an issue.
Ans: A
