1. The world of cricket fans was in the dark till the disclosure of the CBI report.
A) innocent B) ignorant C) happy D) unhappy
Ans: ignorant
2. The journalist found himself in deep waters as he tried to probe into political issues.
A) in trouble B) in distress C) in isolation D) attacked by critics
Ans: in trouble
3. As the professor dwelt too much on his personal life, his lecture became boring.
A) spent too much time B) worried too much
C) wasted too much D) discussed too much
Ans: spent too much time
4. Mrs Paul brought home the bacon to sustain her family
A) earn necessary money B) make only required amount
C) borrowed for essentials D) to achieve something successfully
Ans: earn necessary money
5. An upholder of truth never hesitates to call a spade a spade.
A) to criticise B) to speak frankly
C) to imitate D) to discuss openly
Ans: to speak frankly
6. The eyewitness could not pin down the incident when asked by the police.
A) describe exactly B) narrate
C) elucidate D) answer about
Ans: describe exactly
7. The politician accused of corruption called for a public meeting to clear the airs about his actions.
A) to flaunt B) to propagate
C) get rid of suspicion D) to influence
Ans: get rid of suspicion
8. The citizens who were trying to curry favour with the new officer soon realised it was of no use.
A) to play tricks B) to avoid meeting
C) to extend friendly terms D) win favour by flattery
Ans: win favour by flattery
9. There have been several warnings by the government that there's a hardcore criminal on the loose in the city.
A) rampant B) dashing C) escaped D) enigmatic
Ans: escaped
10. The two countries have been at daggers drawn for years over nuclear disarmament.
A) opposing B) in bitter enmity
C) fighting D) waging wars
Ans: in bitter enmity
11. As both the parties were equally responsible for the damage, they settled the bill fair and
square.
A) partially B) exactly or fairly
C) intellectually D) certainly
Ans: exactly or fairly
12. The project proved to be a grand success,even though there were teething troubles.
A) deep-rooted troubles B) obstacles
C) initial difficulties D) differences
Ans: initial difficulties
13. The Income Tax department seized the property of all those who accumulated wealth through ill-gotten gains.
A) money obtained through dishonesty
B) illegal means C) ancestry D) theft
Ans: money obtained through dishonesty
14. With the best of our batsmen injured, it was a foregone conclusion that the other team would win the match.
A) obvious result B) assumed
C) understood D) compelling
Ans: obvious result
15. When I borrowed a large sum of money from my friend, we simply came to a gentleman's
agreement - neither he nor I had to sign any document.
A) an unwritten agreement B) casual agreement
C) urgent agreement D) round about agreement
Ans: an unwritten agreement
16. The young manager took the responsibility of settling the dispute of agitating workers as he was regarded as having the common touch.
A) encouragement of all classes B) support of all groups
C) hold over workers D) being accepted and liked by all types of classes
Ans: being accepted and liked by all types of classes
17. This reshuffling of party positions is only a straw in the wind as there are definitely going to be major policy changes ahead.
A) an incident that indicates how a future situation might develop
B) a matter of negligible concern
C) an action that instigates violence among employees
D) a policy to contain no further implication
Ans: an incident that indicates how a future situation might develop
18. The CBI had to do a lot of spadework over the issue before they could submit the final report.
A) secret enquiry B) preliminary work
C) verify many issues D) gather many pieces of information
Ans: preliminary work
19. The repeated requests by the teacher to maintain silence in the class fell on deaf ears.
A) was overheard B) was not tolerated
C) was ruled out D) was ignored
Ans: was ignored
20. Though the members of the team agree basically on most of the things, there are a
few matters that they don't see eye to eye.
A) have the same opinion B) have clear vision
C) seem to appear true D) with confrontation
Ans: have the same opinion
21. The student is intelligent but he loses his rank because he is bone-idle.
A) extremely lazy B) very weak
C) paranoid D) fantasizing
Ans: extremely lazy
22. I have been racking my brains all day to remember the name of the institution that offers the desired course.
A) getting deeply involved B) think hard to remember something
C) identifying different things D) anxious
Ans: think hard to remember something
23. All new entrants were asked to wade through the legal formalities before signing the contract.
A) go through something long and difficult
B) give consent to C) to sign on
D) be active and enthusiastic
Ans: go through something long and difficult
24. The players understood there was no point arguing the toss now as the participants of the team were already short-listed.
A) discuss vigorously about something that cannot be changed
B) claiming or defending something
C) involve in unnecessary arguments
D) in making others to come to a quick decision
Ans: discuss vigorously about something that cannot be changed
25. My parents raised hell when I told them that I had decided to discontinue my studies.
A) protested angrily B) shouted loudly
C) created panic D) underwent trauma
Ans: protested angrily
26. Our teacher will throw a fit when she sees our performance in the examination.
A) admonish B) punish cruelly
C) become serious D) become extremely angry
Ans: become extremely angry
27. The rank and file in the medical department were surprised by the sudden visit of the health minister.
A) the ignorant B) the experts
C) ordinary people without any special position in an organisation
D) the departmental heads
Ans: ordinary people without any special position in an organisation
28. The change of management left the employees with a Hobson's choice – a resignation or forcibly adjusting with the new rules.
A) a situation where there is no choice B) danger and risk
C) indecisiveness D) variety of choices
Ans: a situation where there is no choice
29. Although he was innocent, the affair put him under a cloud till the case was proved.
A) behind the bars B) under suspicion
C) into bad reputation D) in deep unrest
Ans: under suspicion
30. He is very intelligent and never allows anyone to take him in in any matter.
A) detract from B) trick him
C) override him D) compete with him
Ans: trick him
31. The earthquake in Gujarat followed by the communal strife has brought business to a
standstill.
A) destroyed B) revived
C) caused to stop D) made profitable
Ans: caused to stop
32. In times of inflation, the daily wage earners find it difficult to keep body and soul together.
A) to find a job B) to maintain bare existence
C) to make profit D) to save money
Ans: to maintain bare existence
33. Unless bad habits are nipped in the bud, they become insurmountable.
A) allowed to grow B) demolished
C) multiplied D) destroyed at an early stage
Ans: destroyed at an early stage
34. As he is a known gossiper, what he says must be taken with a grain of salt.
A) believed with reservation B) believed completely
C) disbelieved D) supported
Ans: believed with reservation
35. His friends gave him the cold shoulder when he lost all his wealth in gambling.
A) refused to talk B) helped
C) treated coldly D) treated warmly
Ans: treated coldly
36. He was cut to the quick when he learnt that his faithful servant had betrayed him for money.
A) wounded in feeling B) angered
C) pleased D) bitter
Ans: wounded in feeling
37. He began to give himself airs after he returned from his stint abroad.
A) be generous B) be arrogant
C) be offensive D) be helpful
Ans: be arrogant
38. Newspapers often bring to light the corrupt practices of politicians.
A) reveal B) hide
C) criticize D) ignore
Ans: reveal
39. Within two years of his father's death, he had made ducks and drakes of his large inheritance.
A) invested wisely B) distributed generously
C) multiplied D) spent foolishly
Ans: spent foolishly
40. In times of depression businessmen have to struggle to keep their heads above water.
A) make profit B) find employees
C) avoid bankruptcy D) develop
Ans: avoid bankruptcy
Some verbal idioms
* abide by: remain faithful to, adhere to.
e.g.: One must abide by the law.
* account for : give an explanation of
e.g.: You have to account for the number of years that I have put in the organization.
* answer for: take the responsibility of.
e.g.: I cannot answer for my brother's mistakes.
* ask after: enquire about one's health.
e.g.: She asked after my grandfather's health.
* ask out: invite
e.g.: The Patels have asked us out for dinner.
* bear the brunt: bear the main burden.
e.g.: I had to bear the brunt of his verbal attack.
* bear a grudge: to continue to feel angry or unfriendly for something done in the past.
e.g.: I bear a grudge against him for not taking me into confidence.
* break the news: announce
e.g.: Everyone clapped when he broke the news of his marriage.
