Spotting Errors Find out which part of a sentence has an error. 1. The families /(a) are living in Gulmohar Park / (b) for the last two decades./(c) No error./ (d) Answer: b
2. Two lakhs of people /(a) attended the meeting/(b) held in Parade grounds./(c) No error./(d) Answer: a
3. There is a Bach’s violin concerto /(a) on the radio / (b) at 6 p.m. this evening./ (c) No error/(d) Answer: d
4. Lay your books aside and / (a) lay down to rest / (b) for a while. / (c) No error / (d) Answer: b
5. We went / (a) with Guptas to a /(b) movie called ‘Deewar’ . /(c) No error / (d) Answer: b
Fill in the blanks Directions: Select the most appropriate word for the blank to make the sentence meaningful.
1. The boy was ______ of cheating in the examination. a. Condemned b. accused c. Charged d. punished Answer: b
2. We have two telephone operators, _______ of them do you want? a. who b. whom c. which d. what Answer: c
3. I have no ____ motive in offering this advice. a. Posterior b. interior c. ulterior d. exterior Answer: c
4. ______ politicians are always respected. a. Conscious b. Conscientious c. Cautious d. Carefree Answer: b
5. We will have to atone _____ our misdeeds. a. at b. on c. for d. with Answer: c
Sentence Completion Directions (1-5): Select the correct phrase from among the choices that completes the given sentence. Please note that more than one choice may fit in to make a syntactically correct sentence, but select the choice that is logical in the context of the sentence.
Q1. When something works well for us, we often __________. (a) keep it to ourselves (b) try to make it impossible (c) sound that we are Godly (d) want to share it with others (e) try to make it difficult. Answer: d
Q2. When science goes berserk, society loses its moorings, sanity begins to play truant and __________. (a) result in neglect of basic human values (b) moral decline sets in (c) further plays havoc with nature (d) the significant elements take shape (e) positive results begin to show Answer: b
Q3. Talks and negotiations to resolve the dispute have taken place from time to time, but any attempt __________. (a) to forge an agreement was based on a report by the fact finding committee (b) to reject the agreement was not formulated (c) at reaching a solution has proved abortive (d) to acquire dark shades has been inconsequential (e) to solve the problem requires further investigation Answer: c
Q4. Action is the glorious principle of life and the only one that saves man from __________. (a) the use of faculties, physical or mental (b) stagnation and unhappiness (c) the sorrow of fellow-beings (d) the prerequisites of happiness (e) the use of his intellectual capacity Answer: b
Q5. Some of the banned substances for which Indian sports persons have been tested positive are so highly priced that __________. (a) no ordinary sportsperson would be able to buy them on his own (b) any ordinary sportsperson would have bought them on his own (c) many sportspersons were made the guinea pigs (d) the coaches encouraged their students to take them in the hope of a Dronacharya Award (e) sportsperson and the coaches unhesitatingly use them in search of glory Answer: a
Synonyms & Antonyms Directions: Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word.
1. CORPULENT A. Lean B. Gaunt C. Emaciated D. Obese Answer: D
2. EMBEZZLE A. Misappropriate B. Balance C. Remunerate D. Clear Answer: A
3. AUGUST A. Common B. Ridiculous C. Dignified D. Petty Answer: C
4. ALERT A. Energetic B. Observant C. Intelligent D. Watchful Answer: D
5. RESCUE A. Command B. Help C. Defence D. Safety Answer: B
Jumbled up sentences Directions: The following five sentences have to be arranged in the proper sequence, so as to form a meaningful paragraph. On the basis of your sequencing, answer the questions that follow
a) As this trend continued across various school boards 100% cut-offs stopped raising eyebrows. Now cut-offs even soar ‘beyond’ 100%. b) So when CBSE gave as many as 16 extra marks in the class XII maths exam in 2016, students with 77 may have ended up getting 93 marks. This is not only unjust to the truly distinguished students but it can hurt more average students as well, by giving them a false sense of academic worth. c) This policy means that upon complaints that a question paper is too difficult, the board recommends extra marks for examinees. d) In 2011, a Delhi University college sparked a major outcry when it set a 100% cut-off for a course. e) What promises welcome relief from this unsustainably feverish trend is CBSE and other school boards’ effort to end the marks moderation policy, which has inflated board exam results without corresponding gain in learning. f) But the university vice-chancellor explained this in the context of how the number of Central Board of Secondary Education class XII students with more than 95% marks had risen dramatically over the previous year.
1. After the rearrangement of sentences, what will be the SECOND sentence? A) e B) a C) b D) f E) c Answer: d
2. After the rearrangement of sentences, what will be the FIRST sentence? A) a B) c C) e D) d E) b Answer: d
3. After the rearrangement of sentences, what will be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence? A) a B) e C) b D) c E) d Answer: c
4. After the rearrangement of sentences, what will be the FIFTH sentence? A) b B) f C) e D) c E) a Answer: d
5. After the rearrangement of sentences, what will be the THIRD sentence? A) e B) b C) a D) c E) f Answer: c
Comprehensions Directions: Read the following passage divided into a number of paragraphs carefully and answer the questions that follow it.
Paragraph 1: From August 19 to 30, Taiwan’s capital Taipei will host more than 7,700 student athletes from 153 countries for the 2017 Summer Universiade. The latter is the premier international multi-sport event for University athletes who consider it to be a stepping stone to participation in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Olympics. The Taipei Universiade will see the young athletes vie for laurels in 21 sports at 38 different venues. In fact, this Universiade will be the largest international sporting event in Taiwan – a big feat for this island nation of 23 million people.
Paragraph 2: But what’s even more important for Taiwan is that the Universiade is an opportunity for it to broaden its international engagements and build ties of friendship. As is well known, Taiwan has official diplomatic ties with a handful of small countries. Saddled by the historical baggage of the Chinese civil war that forced the Kuomintang to flee to Taiwan and transplant the Republic of China there, the Taiwanese today continue to navigate complicated narratives of identity and state. Add to this the fact that an overwhelming majority of countries in the world recognise only one China, which being the People’s Republic of China, and it’s easy to see why Taiwan has had to find creative ways to keep its diplomatic and strategic depth intact.
Paragraph 3: And one of the ways in which Taiwan has done that – and continues to do so – is to become a giver. It has tried its best to share its successes with the rest of the world, be it through outbound investments, manufacturing and research collaboration, or medical aid and technical assistance. Of course, all of this hasn’t been easy with China constantly pressuring Taiwan to toe its line of eventual re-unification. However, the reality is that Taiwan today is very different from China. The former has evolved into a robust multi-party democracy, while the latter has become a Communist powerhouse. Plus, the new generation in Taiwan has no real attachment with China. And having grown up in a free-thinking, democratic atmosphere, it is hard to see Taiwanese youth even consider re-unification with the mainland.
Paragraph 4: Nonetheless, Taiwan’s challenges remain as it continues to be constrained from taking part in the comity of nations as a normal country. And it’s here that Taiwan’s well-wishers need to help it. After all, Taiwan is a unique success story – a manufacturing dynamo, a beacon of democracy and a leader in cutting-edge innovation and research – that needs to be nurtured further. All Taiwan asks for is friendship and mutually beneficial partnerships. It is focused on building long-lasting relationships rather than cost-benefit economic activities that usually determine foreign policy. Taiwan is thinking about everyone’s future and solutions to global challenges – it simply can’t afford to be selfish.
Paragraph 5: This is precisely why the Taipei Universiade is so important for Taiwan. By welcoming young people from across the world to Taiwanese shores, Taiwan wants to build ever-lasting friendships. Indian athletes too will be participating at this Universiade. It is hoped that they, along with athletes from other nations, will become bridges for their respective countries to Taiwan – the heart of Asia. Q: What are the Taiwan’s efforts to make its own identity as a nation? (I) Taiwan’s youths are not interested in re-unification of their nation with China. (II) Taiwan is building diplomatic and friendly relations with other countries. (III) Taiwan is sharing its outbound investments, manufacturing and research collaboration, or medical aid and technical assistance with rest of the world. (IV) Taiwan is welcoming young people for Summer Universiade which is to be held in Taiwan giving young talents the opportunity to explore their capabilities as well as giving Taiwan to broaden its international engagements. (a) Only (I) is correct (b) Both (I) and (II) are correct (c) Both (II) and (IV) are correct (d) Only (II), (III) and (IV) are correct (e) All are correct Answer: e
Spelling check Q1. Spelling test - find correct spelling: a. Manageble b. Managable c. Managaeble d. Manageable Answer: d
Q2. Spelling test - find correct spelling: a. Battallion b. Bettalion c. Battalion d. Battalean Answer: c
Q3. Spelling test - find correct spelling: a. Autonomouse b. Autonomous c. Autonomes d. Autonomus e. Answer: b
Q4. Spelling test - find correct spelling: a. Laegon b. Laegoon c. Lagoon d. Lagon Answer: c
Q5. Spelling test - find correct spelling: a. Idelism b. Idealism c. Idaelism d. Idealesm Answer: b
Cloze-test Directions: In the passage given below there are blanks which are to be filled with the options given below. Find out the appropriate pair of words in each case which can most suitably complete the sentence without altering the meaning of the statement. Both the words must fill the blank.
This month South Africa will have a rare ______________ (1) to break away from the difficult political legacy of corruption and governance failures that have __________ (2) its post-apartheid years. At a conference during December 16-20, the African National Congress will pick its candidate for party leader, and that person will go on to _________ (3) 10-year incumbent President Jacob Zuma.
Q1. (a) chance/ opportunity (b) recourse/ possibility (c) discretion/ caution (d) preference/ predilection (e) redundancy/ discharge Answer: a
Q2. (a) praised/ commended (b) accursed/ detested (c) blighted/ ruined (d) devoured/ improved (e) desolated/ ravaged Answer: c
Q3. (a) dispense/ allocate (b) temper/ drift (c) replace/ succeed (d) resolve/ reconcile (e) commute/ curtail Answer: c