TOPIC: Practice set
Direction (1-5): In the following passage, some blanks are given and against each blank five alternative words are suggested. Choose the correct alternative to complete the passage in a meaningful way.
The past is up for sale — but not only in politics. India is a treasure ______________ (1) of ancient artifacts. Unfortunately, given the bureaucratic ______________ (2) and tardy implementation of antiquities protection laws, this kingdom of riches is fertile territory for plunder. According to a government audit in 2018, between 1992 and 2017, 4,408 items were stolen from 3,676 protected monuments across India. The actual figure is estimated to be more than thrice this number. The serious threat of ______________ (3) to tangible heritage seems to have created an ambience of restitution. India Pride Project, a non-profit organization of art enthusiasts and activists who use social media as well as auctions of stolen artefacts to identify such items and secure their return, is taking the lead in ______________ (4) India’s lost treasures. It recently led to the restitution of a nearly 1,200-year-old Buddha statue that had gone ______________ (5) more than two decades ago from the Devisthan Kundalpur temple in Bihar.
Q1.
(a) Pilfer
(b) Malcontent
(c) Eugenic
(d) Trove
(e) Lineament
Q2.
(a) ideology
(b) Retrench
(c) Apathy
(d) Inured
(e) Invidious
Q3.
(a) Obliteration
(b) Unmitigated
(c) Concomitant
(d) Cozen
(e) Phlegmatic
Q4.
(a) Disporting
(b) Pontifying
(c) Apologizing
(d) Abeyance
(e) Reclaiming
Q5.
(a) Enclaving
(b) Missing
(c) Improvident
(d) Disquisition
(e) Categorizing
Direction (6-10): In the following question a sentence with four highlighted words is given. Choose which of the following pairs should be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. If the sentence is correct as it is, your answer is (e).
Q6. An antiquities (A) citizenry can not only complement (B) the efforts of authorities to recover lost informed (C) but also safeguard India’s national (D) treasures.
(a)A-B
(b) C-D
(c) A-C
(d) A-D
(e)No change required
Q7. The virtually (A) unknown Wilkinson deified (B) to have been appeared (C) in the tribal memory (D) as in one of Kipling’s stories.
(a) B-C
(b) A-D
(c) C-D
(d) A-C
(e) No change required
Q8. Maternity “insurance” in China incurred (A) the loss of income during maternity (B) leave, as well as medical (C) expenses covers (D) at childbirth.
(a) B-C
(b) A-C
(c) A-D
(d) A-B
(e) No change required
Q9. Psychological evaluation (A) entails a change of approach (B) and, therefore, a changed emphasis (C) in the training (D) of prison staff.
(a) A-D
(b) B-D
(c) A-B and B-D
(d) A-B and C-D
(e) No interchange required
Q10. The news role (A) associated with inflation impact (B) in the U.S. and its data (C) on interest rates will play a flow (D) in influencing prices of precious metals.
(a) B-D & A-C
(b) A-B
(c) A-D
(d) B-C & A-D
(e) No interchange required
Directions (11-15): In each of the following questions, a sentence is given with a blank followed by five words. Choose the most suitable word to fill in the blank and make the sentence contextually meaningful and grammatically correct in each case.
Q11. Despite global efforts to ______________ energy, natural gas is set to remain one of the principal sources of primary energy till at least 2040.
(a) Quaff
(b) Trite
(c) Decarbonise
(d) Maul
(e) Adage
Q12. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has brought multiple questions to the ______________ on the validity of international law.
(a) Tawdry
(b) Fore
(c) Hireling
(d) Ensconce
(e) Cogent
Q13. Opposition leader took note of the ______________ of welfare schemes for the ruling regime and sought to counter it by offering more.
(a) Potency
(b) Sedulous
(c) Derelict
(d) Moot
(e) Evanescent
Q14. When companies that have been promoter-controlled decide to ______________ public markets, they first decide on the kind of offer they’d like to make.
(a) Flair
(b) Circumspect
(c) Structure
(d) Abut
(e) Tap
Q15. A nomination is your instruction to the financial institution and the same ______________ applies to bank and securities accounts and specific investments.
(a) Augury
(b) Emblazon
(c) Congeal
(d) Concept
(e) Banal
Solutions:
S1. Ans. (d)
Sol. Pilfer: steal (things of little value).
Malcontent: a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.
Eugenic: relating to or fitted for the production of good offspring.
Trove: a store of valuable or delightful things.
Lineament: a distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
S2. Ans. (c)
Sol. Ideology: a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Retrench: (of an organization or individual) reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty.
Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
Inured: accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.
Invidious: (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
S3. Ans. (a)
Sol. Obliteration: the action or fact of obliterating or being obliterated; total destruction.
Unmitigated: absolute; unqualified.
Concomitant: naturally accompanying or associated.
Cozen: trick or deceive.
Phlegmatic: (of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
S4. Ans. (e)
Sol. Disporting: enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.
Pontifying: to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner
Apologizing: express regret for something that one has done wrong.
Abeyance: a state of temporary disuse or suspension.
Reclaiming: retrieve or recover (something previously lost, given, or paid); obtain the return of.
S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. Enclaving: to isolate or enclose (especially territory) within a foreign or uncongenial environment;
Missing: (of a thing) not able to be found because it is not in its expected place.
Improvident: not having or showing foresight; spendthrift or thoughtless.
Disquisition: a long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject.
Categorizing: place in a particular class or group.
S6. Ans. (c)
Sol. A-C will be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. The sentence will be,
An informed (A) citizenry can not only complement (B) the efforts of authorities to recover lost antiquities (C) but also safeguard India’s national (D) treasures.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S7. Ans. (a)
Sol. B-C will be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. The sentence will be,
The virtually (A) unknown Wilkinson appeared (B) to have been deified (C) in the tribal memory (D) as in one of Kipling’s stories.
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. A-D will be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. The sentence will be,
Maternity “insurance” in China covers (A) the loss of income during maternity (B) leave, as well as medical (C) expenses incurred (D) at childbirth.
S9. Ans. (e)
Sol. The sentence is correct.
S10. Ans. (d)
Sol. B-C and A-D will be interchanged to make the sentence meaningful. The sentence will be,
The news flow (A) associated with inflation data (B) in the U.S. and its impact (C) on interest rates will play a role (D) in influencing prices of precious metals.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice
S11. Ans. (c)
Sol. Quaff: drink (something, especially an alcoholic drink) heartily.
Trite: (of a remark or idea) lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse.
Decarbonise: reduce the amount of gaseous carbon compounds released in or as a result of (an environment or process).
Maul: (of an animal) wound (a person or animal) by scratching and tearing.
Adage: a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.
S12. Ans. (b)
Sol. Tawdry: showy but cheap and of poor quality.
Fore: situated or placed in front.
Hireling: a person employed to do menial work.
Ensconce: establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
Cogent: (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
S13. Ans. (a)
Sol. Potency: the power of something to influence or make an impression.
Sedulous: (of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
Derelict: in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.
Moot: subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty.
Evanescent: soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.
S14. Ans. (e)
Sol. Flair: a special or instinctive aptitude or ability for doing something well.
Circumspect: wary and unwilling to take risks.
Structure: the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.
Abut: touch or lean on.
Tap: exploit or draw a supply from (a resource).
S15. Ans. (d)
Sol. Augury: a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen.
Emblazon: conspicuously inscribe or display a design on.
Congeal: become semi-solid, especially on cooling.
Concept: an abstract idea.
Banal: so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
