Practice Questions
Directions (Qs. 1 - 6): 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 ........ of a fair trial is the cornerstone of the judicial system.
A) impartiality B) partiality C) regularity D) secrecy E) deception
Explanation: In the context of the judicial system, the word ‘cornerstone’ refers to the principles and values that form the foundation of the system and ensure its proper functioning. The word ‘impartiality’ refers to the absence of bias or prejudice in the administration of justice. It is crucial in the judicial system as it ensures that every person is treated equally and receives a fair trial. Without impartiality, the judicial system would become corrupt and justice would not be served.
Ans: A
2. The ........ of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing global warming.
A) extraction B) accumulation C) implementation D) degradation E) suffocation
Explanation: The word ‘accumulation’ refers to the gradual build-up of something over time. As per the sentence, the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing global warming. The gases trap heat from the sun and cause the temperature of the Earth to rise, leading to negative impacts on the environment, such as melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather conditions. The accumulation of greenhouse gases is largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Ans: B
3. The widespread ........ of public officials and employees undermines the trust in the government and the democratic process.
A) trust B) rumours C) corruption D) presence E) credibility
Explanation: The word ‘corruption’ refers to the abuse of power or unethical behaviour for personal gain. It can involve bribery, embezzlement, or other forms of illegal or unethical conduct by public officials or employees. The word ‘undermine’ refers to the weakening of something. As per the sentence, if corrupt behaviour is widespread among the public officials and employees, it undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust in the government institutions and weakens the democratic process.
Ans: C
4. The intense ........ between political parties often results in gridlock and prevents meaningful progress from being made.
A) relation B) stabilization C) acceleration D) polarization E) connection
Explanation: In the context of politics, the word ‘polarization’ refers to the growing divide between political parties and their ideologies. The word ‘gridlock’ refers to a situation where the government is unable to move forward or make progress due to conflicting interests and a lack of cooperation. As per the sentence, intense polarization in politics often results in gridlock, where neither political side is able to make meaningful progress in legislation due to their inability to find common ground.
Ans: D
5. The exchange of artistic and cultural expressions through ........ and collaboration helps to foster cross-cultural understanding and global unity.
Read the sentence carefully: Before attempting the question, it is important to read the sentence carefully and understand the meaning of the words used in it. This will help to determine the context of the sentence and make it easier to determine the correct answer.
Use context clues: Context clues are words or phrases present in the sentence that provide hints or clues about the missing word or phrase in the given sentence. You should look for these clues to determine the correct answer.
Improve vocabulary skills: Vocabulary knowledge is essential for solving fill in the blank questions. You must study common banking terms, financial concepts, and other relevant vocabulary to score good marks in this section.
A) supremacy B) diversity C) monarchy D) suppression E) diplomacy
Explanation: The word ‘diplomacy’ refers to the use of negotiations and other forms of communication to resolve conflicts and promote cooperation between nations. In the context of art and culture, diplomacy refers to the exchange of artistic and cultural expressions through communication and collaboration between different nations and cultures. This exchange of artistic and cultural expressions helps to foster cross-cultural understanding and global unity by promoting a shared appreciation of different art forms and cultural traditions.
Ans: E
6. The integration of technology into daily life has ........ the way we communicate and interact with others.
A) eroded B) pulverized C) rusted D) revolutionized E) disintegrated
Explanation: The word "revolutionized" means to completely change or transform something in a profound and significant way. It refers to a complete overhaul of a system, process, or technology, making it more efficient, effective, and innovative.
When something is revolutionized, it often leads to new and improved ways of doing things, breaking away from the traditional or conventional methods. The term "revolutionized" is often used in technology, where it has become a buzzword, indicating a significant shift in the way things are done.
Ans: D
Directions (Qs. 7 - 11): A sentence is given with two blank spaces, indicating that two words have been omitted from it. select the two words that closely fit within the blanks, thereby making the sentence meaningful and grammatically correct.
7. The lack of accessible and affordable health care ........ in many countries has resulted in a ........ of health outcomes for marginalized communities.
A) organisations, similarity B) systems, agreement C) groups, equality D) teams, harmony E) services, disparity
Explanation: The word ‘disparity’ is used to describe differences or inequalities in various aspects of life, including health. In the context of health, disparity refers to differences in health outcomes, access to health care, and other health-related factors between different population groups. These disparities can be based on various factors, including race, ethnicity, gender, income, education level, and geographic location. The result is that some populations experience better health care services, while others face significant health care barriers for accessing even basic health care services. So, option ‘E’ is the correct choice.
Ans: E
8. The increase in greenhouse gas ........ is causing the Earth's atmosphere to warm, leading to ........ changes in the planet's climate.
A) emissions, drastic B) releases, common C) extinguishes, normal D) exits, dangerous E) factors, fast
Explanation: The term ‘greenhouse gas emissions’ refer to the release of poisonous gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases into the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions come from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions has caused the Earth's atmosphere to warm, leading to ‘drastic’ changes in the planet's climate, such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and more frequent natural disasters. These changes are intense, extreme, and happening rapidly, making them difficult to ignore or reverse.
Ans: A
9. The dispute over the ........ and ........ of the Indo-China border has been a source of tension and conflict for decades.
A) borders, people B) demarcation, control C) land, supremacy D) control, diplomacy E) land, demarcation
Explanation: The ‘demarcation’ of a border refers to the process of defining and marking the boundary between two countries. The ‘control’ of a border refers to the exercise of sovereignty over the territory along the border. In this sentence, the dispute over the demarcation and control of the Indo-China border refers to the ongoing disagreement between India and China over the exact location and ownership of the border between two countries. This disagreement has been a source of tension and conflict for many years, and has resulted in multiple skirmishes and military confrontations, adding to the already volatile situation in the region.
Ans: B
10. The ........ of Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine in Australia's Galilee Basin has sparked a ........ between environmental conservation and economic development.
A) rejection, rumour B) connection, challenge C) approval, controversy D) quota, problem E) controversy, meeting
Explanation: The approval of Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine in Australia's Galilee Basin has sparked a controversy between environmental conservation and economic development. The decision to allow the construction of the coal mine has created a heated debate and disagreement between those who believe in protecting the environment and those who believe in promoting economic growth and development. The issue has become a contentious and complex one, as it involves balancing the need for economic growth with the need for environmental preservation especially around the Great Barrier Reef.
Ans: C
11. The increasing number of the human population and the ........ of the earth's resources have led to the ........ of natural habitats.
A) usage, improvement B) increase, increase C) decrement, decrease D) exploitation, degradation E) increase, decrease
Explanation: In the context of the environment, the term ‘exploitation’ refers to the excessive use of resources without regard for the impact this has on the environment. In the context of the environment, the word ‘degradation’ refers to the destruction or harm caused to natural habitats or ecosystems, which results in a decline in their quality and diversity. The above sentence is discussing the impact of human activity on the environment. The increasing size of the human population, combined with the exploitation of the earth's resources, has led to the degradation of natural habitats.
Ans: D
