- Happiness consists in being _________what we have?
(a) contented to (b) contented with
(c) contented for (d) contented in
Answer: (b) ‘With’ is used for ‘contentment’. All other options are not valid and do not have any sense.
- His rude behaviour is a _________ his organisation.
(a) disgrace for (b) disgrace on
(c) disgrace upon (d) disgrace to
Answer: (d) ‘Disgrace to’ is perfect as per Standard English Usage. ‘for’ can be used with disgrace as – ‘His behaviour is a disgrace for all the love showered by society to his acts.’ In this type of question it is very important to read and reread the sentence to get the true sense of the situation described in the statement.
- No child is _________ understanding. One has to wait and provide proper guidance.
(a) dull to (b) dull in
(c) dull of (d) dull for
Answer: (b) ‘dull of ’ and ‘dull for’ can be out rightly rejected as they do not fit well with the word ‘understanding’. ‘Dull in’ is correct. When we understand it enters — in —- our mind so with understand ‘in’ is used.
- I am fully _________ the problems facing the industry.
(a) alive with (b) alive to
(c) alive for (d) alive on
Answer: (b) The verb ‘alive ‘exclusively takes ‘to’ with it. Alive to means -’ interested in’ /having a lively interest
- Among the factors_____ to the low productivity in agriculture, the first place is occupied by irregular water supply.
(a) producing (b) showing
(c) resulting (d) contributing
Answer: (d) If something contributes to an event or situation, it is one of the causes of it. Here factors has been used in the sense of causes. If you contribute money or resources to something, you give them to help achieve a particular purpose.
- The two brothers look so_____ that it is difficult to tell one from the other.
(a) identical (b) same
(c) similar (d) resembling
Answer: (a) If two persons are similar, you will point out to certain likenesses. Yet you can easily tell one from the other. In other words, you can differentiate between the two. But the given sentence says differentiation is difficult. Which means the resemblance is to a very high degree. In other words, identical.
- His most striking _____ is the enthusiasm which he brings to everything he does.
(a) factor (b) attitude
(c) characteristic (d) character
Answer: (c) We are talking of his most striking (remarkable) quality. The characteristics of a person, thing are the qualities or features that belong to them and make them recognisable.
- Though fond of many acquaintances, I desire_____ only with a few.
(a) introduction (b) cordiality
(c) intimacy (d) encounter
Answer: (c) The correct choice should have a meaning similar to acquaintances but have a greater intensity. An acquaintance is a person whom one knows, especially through work or business, but who is not a close (intimate) friend.
- The Director pointed out in favour of the manager that the profitability of the plant had _____ since he had taken over.
(a) arisen (b) increased
(c) developed (d) declined
Answer: (b)
(d) is rejected because the word should suggest that the fact goes “in favour of ” the manager. If the profitability declines it would go against the manager. A good manager adds to the profitability. In other words, the profitability increases.
- He became the Governor of a Province_____.
(a) by and large
(b) in the course of time
(c) at times
(d) little by little
Answer: (b) If something changes or becomes true in the course of time, it has so become over a long period of time.
- His answer was such______ I expected him to give.
(a) that (b) which
(c) as (d) like which
Answer: (c) ‘I expected him to give’ denotes the kind (category) of the answer; it is not the result of ‘his answer’. So use as, not that.
- Opinions concerning him had remained nearly ____, his daily habits had presented scarcely any visible change.
(a) static (b) biased
(c) limpid (d) stationary
Answer: (d) stationary
- The speaker did not properly use the time as he went on_______ on one point alone.
(a) devoting (b) deliberating
(c) diluting (d) distributing
Answer: (b) If you deliberate on something, you consider it carefully, often in formal meetings with other people.
- After a short holiday Rajni came back totally_______.
(a) rejuvenated (b) reborn
(c) refurbished (d) revamped
Answer: (a) What does a holiday do to you? It makes you fresh (as if you were young) again.
(b) is rejected because you do not get a new life. (c), and (d) apply to things, not to persons.
- I had not expected to meet him; it was quite an ______ meeting.
(a) organised (b) intentional
(c) undesirable (d) accidental
Answer: (d) There were no expectations of the meeting; it was only “by chance”. In other words, the meeting was accidental.
- The window of our room ____ he rear.
(a) overlooks (b) opens
(c) opposes (d) adjoins
Answer: (a) If a building or window overlooks a place (here “the rear” – that is, the backyard), you can see the place clearly from the building or the window.
- The final electoral rolls have been intensively revised through house-to-house_____.
(a) documentation (b) categorisation
(c) enumeration (d) investigation
Answer: (c) Enumeration is the naming of things on a list (here “electoral rolls”) one by one.
- Mountaineering institutes___to the young climbers the technical knowledge which has been accumulated over the years.
(a) impart (b) indicate
(c) apply (d) help
Answer: (a) impart
- In his address to the teachers, the Vice-Chancellor____ certain measures being taken for improving the quality of college education.
(a) declined (b) directed
(c) advised (d) highlighted
Answer: (d) If you highlight a point or problem, you throw greater light on it than on others. That is, you emphasise it or make others think about it.
- The President today______ the committee with the induction of the five new general secretaries in place of those dropped.
(a) reconstituted (b) reviewed
(c) formed (d) enlarged
Answer: (a) When you review something, it is merely a study, not an action (implementation). But “induction” is an action. So we reject (2). Again, “the committee” already existed, otherwise how could five persons have been “dropped”. And you don’t form that which already exists. So (3) is rejected. (4) is rejected because “enlarging” would only involve “induction”, no “dropping”. Similar is the case with supplemented (5). Since it involves both adding (“induction”) and “dropping”, it is a “reconstitution” — forming it again.