Directions (1-3): In the following questions a part of the sentence is given in bold, it is then followed by three sentences which try to explain the meaning of the idiom/phrase given in bold. Choose the alternative from the three sentences given below each question which explains the meaning of the phrase correctly without altering the meaning of the sentence given as question. If none of the sentences explains the meaning of the highlighted phrase, choose option (e) i.e., “none of these” as your answer choice.
Q1. He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors’ decision about the job.
(i) He was still anxiously waiting for his directors’ decision about the job.
(ii) He was still suspiciously waiting for his directors’ decision about the job.
(iii) He was highly passionate for his directors’ decision about the job.
(a) Only (i)
(b) Both (i) and (ii)
(c) Both (ii) and (iii)
(d) All of (i), (ii) and (iii)
(e) None of these
Q2. The guests, packed cheek by jowl, parted as he entered, and suddenly she knew the reason for the party.
(i)The guests, packed closed together, parted as he entered, and suddenly she knew the reason for the party.
(ii)The guests, packed with all the presents with them, parted as he entered, and suddenly she knew the reason for the party.
(iii) The guests, packed in the room, parted as he entered, and suddenly she knew the reason for the party.
(a) Only (i)
(b) Both (ii) and (iii)
(c) Only (iii)
(d) Only (ii)
(e) None of these
Q3. He was taken to task for not reporting the problem earlier.
(i) He was upbraided for not reporting the problem earlier.
(ii) He was given in remand for not reporting the problem earlier.
(iii) He was scolded for not reporting the problem earlier.
(a) Only (i)
(b) Both (i) and (ii)
(c) Both (ii) and (iii)
(d) Both (i) and (iii)
(e) None of these
Directions (4-8): In the following questions a part of the sentence is given in bold, it is then followed by four sentences which try to explain the meaning of the idiom/phrase given in bold. Choose the alternative from the four given below each question which explains the meaning of the phrase correctly without altering the meaning of the sentence given as question. If none of the sentence explains the meaning of the highlighted phrase, choose option (e) i.e., “none of these” as your answer choice.
Q4. We are likely to find ourselves in a blind alley if we center our vision of the future on worker cooperatives alone.
(a) We are likely to find ourselves in a dark alley if we center our vision of the future on worker cooperatives alone.
(b) We are likely to find ourselves in the direction of undesirable outcome, if we center our vision of the future on worker cooperatives alone.
(c) We are likely to find ourselves in a position of ambiguous goals, if we center our vision of the future on worker cooperatives alone.
(d) We are like to find ourselves focusing on the more fruitful objective, if we center our vision of the future on worker cooperatives alone.
(e) None of these
Q5. Just the other day, I asked her to wrap a bandage for me and she just gave the thing a lick and a promise.
(a) Just the other day, when I asked her to wrap a bandage for me, she just ignored and moved away.
(b) She perfectly wrapped the bandage for me when I asked her just the other day.
(c) Just the other day, I asked her to wrap a bandage for me and she quickly ran to get some help.
(d) Just the other day, I asked her to wrap a bandage for me and she just quickly and carelessly cleaned it.
(e) None of these
Q6. In the game of Football, Atlanta falls to 4-6 on the year and will have to go back to the drawing board to make 2018 worth it.
(a) In the game of Football, Atlanta falls to 4-6 on the year and will have to follow the strategy in 2018 again.
(b) In the game of Football, Atlanta falls to 4-6 on the year and will have to consult the experts to be successful in the year 2018.
(c) In the game of Football, Atlanta falls to 4-6 on the year and will have to plan again to make 2018 worth it.
(d) In the game of Football, Atlanta falls to 4-6 on the year and will have to endure the strategy to make 2018 worth it.
(e) None of these
Q7. It has taken more than three decades for Indian officials, coaches and players to realise that crying over spilt milk won’t get them anywhere.
(a) It has taken more than three decades for Indian officials, coaches and players to realise that worrying over past events which cannot be changed won’t get them anywhere.
(b) It has taken more than three decades for Indian officials, coaches and players to realise that falling in messy situations won’t get them anywhere
(c) It has taken more than three decades for Indian officials, coaches and players to realise that being lenient in the current situation won’t get them anywhere.
(d) It has taken more than three decades for Indian officials, coaches and players to realise that obliterating the past events won’t get them anywhere.
(e) None of these
Q8. The new urban rest stop is a far cry from the current hygiene center in Chinatown, which is older with limited space, resources and case workers to help the homeless in urban Honolulu.
(a) The new urban rest stop is much allied the current hygiene center in Chinatown, which is older with limited space, resources and case workers to help the homeless in urban Honolulu.
(b) The new urban rest stop is a much crucial system of the current hygiene center in Chinatown, which is older with limited space, resources and case workers to help the homeless in urban Honolulu.
(c) The new urban rest stop is a pre-requisite for the current hygiene center in Chinatown, which is older with limited space, resources and case workers to help the homeless in urban Honolulu.
(d) The new urban rest stop is very different from the current hygiene center in Chinatown, which is older with limited space, resources and case workers to help the homeless in urban Honolulu.
(e) None of these
Directions (9-13): In each of the following questions given below, a sentence is given with some bold words which may contain errors. Below each of the sentences, a table is given with two columns in which column ‘A’ contains the list of bold words, and in column ‘B’ the suggested corrections are listed. You have to choose the best alternate among the four given options. If no correction is required against the given bold words, mark (e) .i.e. “None of the above” as your answer.
Q9. Prescriptions about global oil have flipped dramatically over the last six weeks, from fears of shortcoming to apprehension of a glut. Brent futures of oil for delivery in January 2019, which had risen to a four-year high of $86.30 per barrel on October 3, is now $66.60.
COLUMN (A)
(1) prescriptions
(2) flipped
(3) shortcoming
(4) risen
COLUMN (B)
(5) perceptions
(6) flip
(7) shortage
(8) arise
(a) Both (1) – (5) and (3) – (7)
(b) (2) – (6)
(c) (1) – (5)
(d) (3) – (7)
(e) None of the above
Q10. In 1770, long before computers were discovered, Wolfgang von Kempelen built what was widely believed to be the world’s first intelligent machine—a device so smart that it consistently beat some of the best minds of the day at chess.
COLUMN (A)
(1) discovered
(2) believed
(3) intelligent
(4) consistently
COLUMN (B)
(5) invented
(6) bewildered
(7) intelligently
(8) consistent
(a) Both (1) – (5) and (3) – (7)
(b) (2) – (6)
(c) (1) – (5)
(d) (3) – (7)
(e) None of the above
Q11. The Aspiring Principals Leadership program is designed for people who are likely to become principals soon. It focuses on educational leadership over than school administration, and emphasis curriculum planning, student progressive and teaching quality.
COLUMN (A)
(1) designed
(2) over
(3) emphasis
(4) progressive
COLUMN (B)
(5) designing
(6) rather
(7) emphasizes
(8) progress
(a) (1) – (5)
(b) (2) – (6)
(c) (1) – (5)
(d) (2) – (6), (3) – (7) and (4) – (8)
(e) None of the above
Q12. Anganwadi centres (AWCs) are the focal point of distribution of health and nutrition services for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children. There have been improvements in the quantity, quality and coverage of services provided to the beneficiaries.
COLUMN (A)
(1) distribution
(2) improvements
(3) coverage
(4) beneficiaries
COLUMN (B)
(5) delivery
(6) improvement
(7) covering
(8) benefits
(a) (1) – (5)
(b) (2) – (6)
(c) (1) – (5)
(d) (2) – (6), (3) – (7) and (4) – (8)
(e) None of the above
Q13. Tamil Nadu has been in the limelight for long for its child labour problems. Children were falling pray to the exploitative labour in firecracker and matchsticks-producing industries. In 2012-13, a major fire accident occurred in Sivakasi, where both — children and adults — lost their lives.
COLUMN (A)
(1) limelight
(2) pray
(3) industries
(4) occured
COLUMN (B)
(5) highlighted
(6) prey
(7) establishment
(8) happening
(a) (1) – (5)
(b) (2) – (6)
(c) (1) – (5)
(d) (2) – (6), (3) – (7) and (4) – (8)
(e) None of the above
Directions (14-15): Given below each question is given two columns: Column (1) and Column (2). Column (1) has three phrases marked as (1), (2) and (3) while the Column (2) also has three phrases marked as (4), (5) and (6). Match the phrases marked as (1), (2) and (3) to the ones marked as (4), (5) and (6) to make, if possible, a grammatically meaningful sentence. Identify such matches which illustrate contextually meaningful sentences. After identifying contextually meaningful sentence(s), check if any part of that sentence has an error in it. If there is no error, then choose the part (E). If all the given options are not satisfying any of these two conditions, then choose option (e) i.e. none of these as your answer choice.
Q14. Column (1)
(1) The solution lies (A)/ in advocating values of humanism (B)/
(2) Each of (A)/ the great tragedies (B)/
(3) If Sameer has (A)/ finished the work, (B)/
Column (2)
(4) and democracy so as to combat (C)/ the oncoming brand of fascism/ (D)/ No error (E).
(5) for our team (C)/ are young and ambitious (D)/ No error (E).
(6) wins their sympathy (C) and admiration (D)/ No error (E).
(a) 2-5; (A)
(b) 1-4: (B)
(c) 3-6: (E) & 1-2: (D)
(d) 2-6 (C)
(e) None of these
Q15. Column (1)
(1) Rohan advised to (A)/ his sisters that they should (B)/
(2) The customers (A)/ who died in the plane crash (B)/
(3) Those players who (A)/ did not adhere to the rules of games (B)/
Column (2)
(4) was deprived of taking part (C)/ in the championship (D)/ No error (E).
(5) go to the college regularly (C)/ and do their assignment sincerely (D)/ No error (E).
(6) of Shakespeare (C)/ is worth reading (D)/ No error.
(a) 1-5: (A) & 2-6 (B)
(b) 2-6: (C)
(c) 1-5: (C) & 3-4: (C)
(d) 3-6: (A)
(e) None of these
Solutions:
S1. Ans. (b)
Sol. ‘on tenterhooks’ is a phrase which means ‘in a state of suspense or agitation because of uncertainty about a future event.’
Among the given alternatives, (i) and (ii) imparts the correct meaning to the highlighted phrase.
Hence, the option (b) is the correct answer.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. The highlighted phrase ‘cheek by jowl’ means ‘close together’
Among the given alternatives, only alternative (i) impart the correct meaning to the highlighted phrase.
Hence, the option (a) is the correct answer.
S3. Ans. (d)
Sol. The meaning of the highlighted phrase ‘taken to task’ is ‘To scold, reprimand, lecture, or hold one accountable for some wrong or error they committed’
Among the given alternatives, both alternative (i) and (iii) impart the correct meaning to the highlighted phrase.
Upbraided- find fault with (someone); scold
Hence, the option (d) is the correct answer.
S4. Ans. (b)
Sol. The phrase “a blind alley” means that someone is following a course of action that is certain to lead to an undesirable outcome. Therefore, only option (b) correctly illustrates the meaning of the given sentence. Hence, it becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S5. Ans. (d)
Sol. The highlighted idiom “a lick and a promise” means a quick and careless act of cleaning or washing. All the other sentences are contextually different from the given sentence. Therefore, only option (d) correctly illustrates the meaning of the given sentence. Hence, it becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S6. Ans. (c)
Sol. The idiom “back to the drawing board’ means to start planning something again because the first plan failed. All the other sentences are contextually different from the given sentence. Therefore, only option (c) correctly illustrates the meaning of the given sentence. Hence, it becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S7. Ans. (a)
Sol. The idiom “crying over spilt milk” means to express regret about something that has already happened or cannot be changed. All the other sentences are contextually different from the given sentence. Therefore, only option (a) correctly illustrates the meaning of the given sentence. Hence, it becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S8. Ans. (d)
Sol. The idiom “a far cry from” means be very different to. All the other sentences are contextually different from the given sentence. Therefore, only option (d) correctly illustrates the meaning of the given sentence. Hence, it becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S9. Ans. (a)
Sol. The sentence is describing about the fluctuations in the price of oil barrel. Therefore, the words ‘prescriptions’ and ‘shortcomings’ are incorrect in the context of the paragraph. Hence, they should be replaced by ‘perceptions’ and ‘shortage’. ‘Perceptions’ means the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. ‘Shortage’ means a state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts. Hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice.
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. The sentence is describing about a smart device which was invented before computers, which was built by Wolfgang von Kempelen. Therefore, the word “discovered” which means be the first to find or observe (a place, substance, or scientific phenomenon) is incorrect and should be replaced by “invented” which means create or design (something that has not existed before); be the originator of. All the other highlighted words are grammatically and contextually correct. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer choice.
S11. Ans. (d)
Sol. The sentence is describing about a leadership program for the Aspiring Principals. It has also mentioned its areas of interests to work on. To frame a grammatically correct sentence, replace “over” with “rather” as “rather than” indicates that something is done in place of something else. “emphasis” should be replaced by “emphasizes” as the subject [The Aspiring Principals Leadership program] of the verb is singular. Moreover, “progressive” should be replaced by “progress” as progressive is an adjective which means happening or developing gradually or in stages while ‘progress’ is a noun which means forward or onward movement towards a destination. Hence, option (d) is the most suitable answer choice.
S12. Ans. (a)
Sol. The sentence is describing about the services provided by the Anganwadi centres. Services are rendered or delivered but cannot be distributed. To frame a grammatically correct and contextually meaningful paragraph, replace “distribution” which means the action of sharing something out among a number of recipients by “delivery” which means the supply or provision of something. All the other highlighted words are correct, hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice.
S13. Ans. (b)
Sol. The word “pray” which means address a prayer to God or another deity is incorrect and must be replaced by “prey” to form a contextually meaningful sentence. “prey” means someone who can be easily deceived or harmed. All the other highlighted words are correct, hence, option (b) is the most suitable answer choice.
S14. Ans. (b)
Sol. The sequence 1-4 makes a coherent and contextually meaningful sentence.
In the sentence 1-4, there is an error in the part (B) of the sentence.
‘The’ should be used before ‘values’ because in the ‘Noun + of + Noun’ construction, ‘the’ is used prior to the noun appearing prior to the ‘of’.
S15. Ans. (c)
Sol. The sequences 1-5 and 3-4 would make coherent and contextually meaningful sentences.
In the sentence 1-5, there is an error in the part (C) of the sentence.
‘The’ shouldn’t be used prior to ‘college’. In the phrases like ‘go to school/church/jail’, the words ‘school, college, church, jail etc.’ are fulfilling their fundamental objectives.
In the sentence 3-4, there is an error in the part (C) of the sentence.
Instead of ‘was’, ‘were’ would be used because the subject of the verb is ‘those players’ which is a plural noun.
Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.