GENERAL APTITUDE (VERBAL ABILITY)
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Contents
General Aptitude
CONTENTS Chapter #1.
#2.
#3.
#4.
#5.
Vocabulary Based – Synonyms and Antonyms
1-10
1 2-6 7 7-10
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Odd Man Out
11-16
11 12-13 14 14-16
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Analogies
17-25
17 18-21 22 22-25
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Multiple Usage
26-36
26-27 28-34 35 35-36
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Grammar Brush-Up
37-43
37-43
Theory + Examples
#6. Fill In The Blanks
#7.
Page No.
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
44-58 44 45-52 53 53-58
Sentence Correction
59-67
59 60-64 65 65-67
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
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Contents
#8.
#9.
General Aptitude
Jumbled Paragraphs
68-89
68- 69 69-82 83 83-89
Theory + Examples Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Reading Comprehension
90-112
90 91-108 109 109-112
Theory Assignment Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Module Test
113-126
113-121 122 122-126
Test Questions Answer Keys Explanations
Appendix 1
High Frequency Words and their Meanings
127-162 127-162
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Chapter 1
General Aptitude
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary Based – Synonyms and Antonyms These are the most common type of verbal questions that can be asked in any exam. These are simple to understand but can be answered only when the meaning of the words are known. We’ll look into the different formats of these questions, so that we can get an overview of how these questions can be framed. However, objective remains the same i.e. to test your vocabulary.
Synonym Based: The student has to identify the words closest in meaning. For Example Select the most suitable synonym for the main word or the group of words. 1. PANACEA (A) Wonder (B) Elixir (C) Placebo (D) Honey Option (B) is the most suited answer as elixir and panacea both means ‘cure-all’. 2. A polite word for something shocking (A) Plexus (B) Pleonasm (C) Aphorism (D) Euphemism Option (D) is most appropriate as ‘euphemism’ means to replace harsh word with a polite one.
Antonym Based: Student has to identify the word which is opposite in meaning. For Example: Select the most suitable antonym for the main word or group of words. 1. CRUDE (A) CRUEL (B) SOPHISTICATED (C) MALEVOLENT (D) PRIMEVAL Here Option (B) is most suited. 2. Select the pair which is opposite in meaning 1. DIGNITY 2. DISCORD 3. STRIFE 4. AGREEMENT (A) 2 – 3 (B) 1 – 3 (C) 2 – 4 (D) 1 – 4 Here, option (C) is most suited as ‘discord’ means disagreement. THE GATE ACADEMY PVT.LTD. H.O.: #74, Keshava Krupa (third Floor), 30th Cross, 10th Main, Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore-11 : 080-65700750, info@thegateacademy.com © Copyright reserved. Web: www.thegateacademy.com Page 1
Chapter 1
General Aptitude
Assignment Direction for questions 1 to 5: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word from the alternatives given, which is closet in meaning in the given context. 1. The police officer appears oblivious to the opprobrium generated by his blatantly partisan conduct. (A) Harsh criticism (C) Bitter enmity (B) Acute distrust (D) Stark oppressiveness 2.
It appears to many that the US “war on terrorism” portends trouble in the Gulf (A) Introduces (C) Spells (B) Evokes (D) Bodes
3.
When a videotape of her meeting was played back to her and she was asked to explain her presence there, she started prevaricating (A) Speaking evasively (C) Lying furiously (B) Speaking violently (D) Throwing a tantrum
4.
The Crowd became restive when the minister failed to appear even by 10 p.m. (A) Violent (C) Restless (B) Angry (D) Distressed
5.
Manohar’s ostensible job was to guard the building at night (A) Apparent (C) Ostentatious (B) Blatant (D) Insidious Directions for questions 6 to 10: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word from the alternatives given, that is most inappropriate in the given context. 6. Many human beings live with the illusion that their problems are insurmountable, and continue to blame their destiny. (A) fact (C) clarity (B) image (D) deadlock 7.
The professor was famous for his discursive lectures. (A) rambling (C) brief (B) laconic (D) boring
8.
Marilyn Monroe initially rose to fame by posing for some lewd photographs. (A) decent (C) lustful (B) moral (D) loose
9.
The audience fled the hall as his crass cacophony began to sound over the speakers. (A) jarring sound (C) melody (B) music (D) voice THE GATE ACADEMY PVT.LTD. H.O.: #74, Keshava Krupa (third Floor), 30th Cross, 10th Main, Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore-11 : 080-65700750, info@thegateacademy.com © Copyright reserved. Web: www.thegateacademy.com Page 2
Chapter 1
General Aptitude
10.
He averred that we can definitely manifest our highest potential within his lifetime if we only care to bring out a great inner change. (A) erred (C) affirmed (B) went on (D) discussed Directions for questions 11 to 15: Each question has a sentence with one word underlined. Identify the meaning of the underlined word from among the four alternatives and mark its number as answer. 11. The Minister got an overwhelming encore when he finished his song. (A) stone-pelting (C) call for repletion (B) garlanding (D) financial help 12.
The actor’s sitting room was luxurious and flamboyant. (A) costly (C) ostentatious (B) congested (D) elevated
13.
At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties. (A) monetary (B) business
14.
(C) minor (D) professional
I left the letter on her bed and went to sleep, exhausted from sobbing. (A) tired (C) vexed (B) burnt (D) faint
15.
What she did was a manifestation of her frustration. (A) expression (C) wishes (B) desire (D) aim Direction for questions 16 to 25: From the given options, choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word given in the question. 16. Acrimony (A) Tenderness (C) Exonerate (B) Slow (D) Virulence 17.
18.
19.
Beguile (A) Apprise (B) Stupidity
(C) Convict (D) Hoodwink
Exalt (A) Expand (B) Extol
(C) Enforce (D) Entangle
Quandary (A) Dilemma (B) Sullen
(C) Mitigate (D) Diffident
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Chapter 1
General Aptitude
20.
Rapacious (A) Meek (B) Cunning (C) Voracious (D) Articulate
21.
Goad (A) Good (B) Spur
(C) Beat (D) Cattle
Sacrilege (A) Blasphemy (B) Sacrifice
(C) Surrender (D) Kill
Twirl (A) Twinkle (B) Entangle
(C) Twist (D) Tug
Wharf (A) Dock (B) Whiff
(C) Conspiracy (D) Ship
Beatific (A) Beautiful (B) Beau
(C) Bawdy (D) Celestial
22.
23.
24.
25.
Direction for questions 26 to 40: From the given options, choose the word that is closest to the opposite meaning of the word given in the question. 26. Disconcert (A) Fluster (C) Perturb (B) Hearten (D) Abash 27.
28.
29.
Abeyance (A) Abbey (B) Assent
(C) Continuation (D) Abet
Fracas (A) Concurrence (B) Fray
(C) Quarrel (D) Dilemma
Assiduous (A) Persevering (B) Caring
(C) Indolent (D) Intelligent
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Chapter 1
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
General Aptitude
Slander (A) Malign (B) Traduce
(C) Soft spoken (D) Praise
IMMACULATE (A) Unclean (B) Immobile
(C) Motherly (D) Accumulated
AGGRAVATE (A) Segregate (B) Adulterate
(C) Ameliorate (D) Accommodate
IGNOMINIOUS (A) Crooked (B) Dishonest
(C) Ominous (D) Laudable
COGNIZANT (A) Observant (B) Perceptive
(C) Conscious (D) Oblivious
DULL (A) Monstrous (B) Fascinating
(C) Horrid (D) Ghastly
IMPUDENT (A) Rude (B) Courteous
(C) Impertinent (D) Insolent
NOVICE (A) Adept (B) Dilettante
(C) Amateur (D) Greenhorn
Awkwardness (A) Aplomb (B) Acumen
(C) Base (D) Agile
Depressed (A) Dull (B) Daring
(C) Buoyant (D) Aggressive
Urbane (A) Aggressive (B) Bolster
(C) Bucolic (D) Sophisticated
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Chapter 1
General Aptitude
Directions for questions 41 to 45: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the word from the alternatives given, that is most inappropriate in the given context. 41. A specious argument is not simply a false one but one that has the ring of truth. (A) Deceitful (C) Credible (B) Fallacious (D) Deceptive 42.
The new mass transit system may obviate the need for the use of personal cars (A) Prevent (C) Preclude (B) Forestall (D) Bolster
43.
Some words fall into disuse as technology makes objects obsolete (A) Prevalent (C) Obliterated (B) Discarded (D) Unfashionable
44.
The evidence was constructed from very parsimonious scraps of information (A) Frugal (C) Thrifty (B) Penurious (D) Altruistic
45.
When I suggested that war is a method of controlling population, my father remarked that I was being facetious (A) Jovian (C) Jocular (B) Jovial (D) Joking
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Chapter 1
General Aptitude
Answer Keys & Explanations Answer Keys 1 11 21 31 41
A C B A C
2 12 22 32 42
D C A C D
3 13 23 33 43
A A C D A
4 14 24 34 44
C A A D D
5 15 25 35 45
A A D B A
6 16 26 36
B D B B
7 17 27 37
A D C A
8 18 28 38
C B A A
9 19 29 39
A A C C
10 20 30 40
C C D C
Explanations: 1.
[Ans. A] Harsh criticism means the same as opprobrium or scorn.
2.
[Ans. D] Portend means a sign or warning and Bodes means to bring about some outcome.
3.
[Ans. A] Prevaricate means to act or speak evasively.
4.
[Ans. C] Restive means unable to keep still, same as restless.
5.
[Ans. A] Ostensible means anything that is apparently true.
6.
[Ans. B] An illusion is a deception, a false mental representation of facts which are not true.
7.
[Ans. A] A discursive lecture is wordy and rambling. It digresses from the main point to cover a vast range of subjects.
8.
[Ans. C] Lewd implies something obscene, driven by lust or with exhibiting lustful desires.
9.
[Ans. A] A crass cacophony is a harsh, unrefined jarring sound.
10.
[Ans. C] To aver is to solemnly declare or affirm something as formally true.
11. 12.
[Ans. C] [Ans. C] THE GATE ACADEMY PVT.LTD. H.O.: #74, Keshava Krupa (third Floor), 30th Cross, 10th Main, Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore-11 : 080-65700750, info@thegateacademy.com © Copyright reserved. Web: www.thegateacademy.com Page 7