Q1: Below is a text with blanks. Fill the appropriate answer choice from the given options for each blank.
The average shooting star or meteor, which gives so strongly the impression of a star falling from the sky, is a small fragment of matter, usually smaller than a pea and often no longer than a _________(1) of sand. Space is not empty but contains great numbers of such fragments. The earth, in its motion around the sun, meets many of these _________(2), which enter the atmosphere at a speed many times greater than that of a rifle bullet. The meteor, rushing through the air, becomes intensely heated by _________(3) and is usually completely vaporised before it penetrates within a distance of twenty miles from the _________(4) of the earth. Many millions of these fragments enter our atmosphere in the course of a day, but the atmosphere _________(5) us from them.
Given below are the answer choices for the blanks in the passage. Choose one option for each blank.
1. fragments / meteors / shoots / stars
2. atmosphere / air / friction / gravity
3. atmosphere / land / people / surface
4. secures / assures / settles / protects
Ans:
The average shooting star or meteor, which gives so strongly the impression of a star falling from the sky, is a small fragment of matter, usually smaller than a pea and often no longer than a grain of sand. Space is not empty but contains great numbers of such fragments. The earth, in its motion around the sun, meets many of these fragments, which enter the atmosphere at a speed many times greater than that of a rifle bullet. The meteor, rushing through the air, becomes intensely heated by friction and is usually completely vaporised before it penetrates within a distance of twenty miles from the surface of the earth. Many millions of these fragments enter our atmosphere in the course of a day, but the atmosphere protects us from them.
The text is about shooting stars or meteors that fall towards the surface of the earth. They are small fragments, sometimes as small as a grain of sand, and get burnt up through friction with air in our atmosphere. Thus atmosphere prevents shooting stars from falling to the surface of the earth and thus protects us.
1. grain - 'no longer than a grain of sand' is the most fitting description for a small fragment of matter.
2. meteors - 'many of these meteors' fits best with the context of entering the atmosphere.
3. friction - 'becomes intensely heated by friction' explains the heating process as the meteor travels through the air.
4. surface - 'before it penetrates within a distance of twenty miles from the surface of the earth' accurately describes the location relative to the earth.
5. protects - 'the atmosphere protects us from them' describes the protective role of the atmosphere effectively.
Q2: Below is a text with blanks. Fill the appropriate answer choice from the given options for each blank.
Silence is something more than just a pause; it is that enchanted place where space is cleared and time is stayed and the horizon itself expands. In silence, we often say, we can hear ourselves _________(1); but what is truer to say is that in silence we can hear ourselves not think, and so sink below ourselves into a place far _________(2) than mere thought allows. In silence, we might better say, we can _________(3) someone else think or simply breathe. Silence is responsiveness, as in silence we can listen to something behind the clamour of the world. It is no _________(4) that places of worship are places of silence: if idleness is the devil's playground, silence may be the angels'. Silence is beyond the doctrines and divisions created by the mind. If everyone has a spiritual story to tell of his life, everyone has a _________(5) silence to preserve.
Given below are the answer choices for the blanks in the passage. Choose one option for each blank.
1. speak / decide / start-up / think
2. greater / peacefully / noisier / deeper
3. see / watch / hear / bear
4. concern / coincidence / matter / point
5. lethargic / spiritual / rightful / clamorous
Ans:
Silence is something more than just a pause; it is that enchanted place where space is cleared and time is stayed and the horizon itself expands. In silence, we often say, we can hear ourselves think; but what is truer to say is that in silence we can hear ourselves not think, and so sink below ourselves into a place far deeper than mere thought allows. In silence, we might better say, we can hear someone else think or simply breathe. Silence is responsiveness, as in silence we can listen to something behind the clamour of the world. It is no coincidence that places of worship are places of silence: if idleness is the devil's playground, silence may be the angels'. Silence is beyond the doctrines and divisions created by the mind. If everyone has a spiritual story to tell of his life, everyone has a spiritual silence to preserve.
See how the answer to the first blank is provided in the third (hear ourselves think), and that to the third blank is provided in the first (hear others think). 'Sink' is the clue for 'deeper' (one sinks below or deep). By no coincidence, places of worship are places of silence because here you can hear yourself meditate or connect with the Almighty; the silence is spiritual.
1. think - 'hear ourselves think' is the common phrase used to describe introspection in silence.
2. deeper - 'a place far deeper than mere thought allows' fits the context of sinking below surface-level thoughts.
3. hear - 'we can hear someone else think or simply breathe' fits with the idea of being attuned to subtle sounds.
4. coincidence - 'it is no coincidence that places of worship are places of silence' explains why the phenomenon occurs.
5. spiritual - 'everyone has a spiritual silence to preserve' aligns with the notion of a personal, sacred space.
Q3: Below is a text with blanks. Fill the appropriate answer choice from the given options for each blank.
Soil erosion is contributing to degradation in about 45 percent of the cultivable area of the country. The estimates of wastelands range from 76 million hectares to 175 million hectares. In a densely _________(1) country, one cannot afford to let so much land remain idle. To make this land _________(2), the productive approach is through watershed development. Therefore, the government is giving high priority to holistic and sustainable _________(3) of rain-fed areas based on the watershed approach. A large number of projects for productivity enhancement are being _________(4) based on the watershed approach. A Project Implementing Agency (PIA), which may be a Government Department or an NGO, is assigned about 10 micro watersheds, each micro watershed _________(5) about 500 hectares.
Given below are the answer choices for the blanks in the passage. Choose one option for each blank.
1. adjusted / lending / contracted / populated
2. peculiar / cultivable / developed / safe
3. erosion / development / projection / impoverishment
4. prompted / approached / tried / implemented
5. keeping / covering / receiving / allowing
Ans:
Soil erosion is contributing to degradation in about 45 percent of the cultivable area of the country. The estimates of wastelands range from 76 million hectares to 175 million hectares. In a densely populated country, one cannot afford to let so much land remain idle. To make this land cultivable, the productive approach is through watershed development. Therefore, the government is giving high priority to holistic and sustainable development of rain-fed areas based on the watershed approach. A large number of projects for productivity enhancement are being implemented based on the watershed approach. A Project Implementing Agency (PIA), which may be a Government Department or an NGO, is assigned about 10 micro watersheds, each micro watershed covering about 500 hectares.
The text is about the serious problem of loss of cultivable land due to soil erosion (more so in a densely populated country) and about the government efforts to control it through watershed development. A large number of watershed development projects are sought to be implemented, each covering about 500 hectares.
1. populated - 'a densely populated country' fits the context of a country with a large population where land management is crucial.
2. developed - 'To make this land developed' fits with the goal of improving land use through watershed development.
3. development - 'sustainable development of rain-fed areas' is the most appropriate term for describing the aim of the projects.
4. implemented - 'projects for productivity enhancement are being implemented' fits with the action being taken.
5. covering - 'each micro watershed covering about 500 hectares' fits the context of describing the area each micro watershed manages.
Q4: Below is a text with blanks. Fill the appropriate answer choice from the given options for each blank.
The present fashion scene offers a wide range of intriguing collections, bold and _________(1) to each designer. And with the latest developments in the field of information technology (IT), a new dimension has been added to this creative field - The Computerised Hi-Fashion Dress Designing. Computer has added new _________(2) and shades to the fashion industry with its ever widening capabilities. For efficient time management, better _________(3), accurate patterns and sampling, computer has displayed effectiveness as an efficient production tool. A CAD system allows the designer complete hands-on control of the design _________(4). The computer uses a high definition video screen, which reproduces colours addictively by creating mixtures of three primaries (red, green and blue) and by _________(5) their intensities.
Given below are the answer choices for the blanks in the passage. Choose one option for each blank.
1. beautiful / artistic / brash / unique
2. stores / dimensions / pageants / designs
3. channel / design / fold / proof
4. thought / code / speed / process
5. varying / creating / keeping / storing
Ans:
The present fashion scene offers a wide range of intriguing collection, bold and unique to each designer. And with the latest developments in the field of information technology (IT), a new dimension has been added to this creative field - The Computerised Hi-Fashion Dress Designing. Computer has added new dimensions and shades to the fashion industry with its ever widening capabilities. For efficient time management, better design, accurate patterns and sampling, computer has displayed effectiveness as an efficient production tool. A CAD system allows the designer complete hands-on control of the design process. The computer uses a high definition video screen, which reproduces colours addictively by creating mixtures of three primaries (red, green and blue) and by varying their intensities.
The text is about the change brought into the fashion scene by the introduction of computer-aided design (CAD). As it is, the creativity is unique to each designer. CAD has added new dimensions through better design, hands-on control of the design process, by video reproduction of colour mixtures and their variations.
1. unique - 'bold and unique to each designer' fits the context of individual creativity in fashion.
2. dimensions - 'new dimensions and shades' fits with the idea of adding new aspects to fashion.
3. design - 'better design' is the most relevant option for describing improvements in fashion design.
4. process - 'hands-on control of the design process' fits the context of managing and refining design.
5. varying - 'varying their intensities' describes how the computer adjusts color reproduction
Q5: Below is a text with blanks. Fill the appropriate answer choice from the given options for each blank.
Effective marketing was described as the functioning of a system governed by the laws of economics, the marketplace and human _________(1) - all of which are inseparable. In its totality, it is the responsibility of marketing to convert the exchange between the company and the consumer into human _________(2). Happiness flows from the satisfaction of the consumer out of the purchase made. Everyone in the organisation is a _________(3) person, regardless of the function performed, contributing to making possible happiness in the marketplace. Thus, the role of marketing is to understand and manage existing, _________(4), perceived and pre-empted demand, so that happiness is created in the marketplace, leading to brand loyalty, corporate and trademark goodwill and product standings which, in the collective, _________(5) market leadership.
Given below are the answer choices for the blanks in the passage. Choose one option for each blank.
1. behaviour / endeavour / management / failure
2. behaviour / enterprise / study / happiness
3. effective / marketing / responsive / selling
4. emerging / extinct / useful / predictable
5. reflecting / reflected / reflection / reflect
Ans:
Effective marketing was described as the functioning of a system governed by the laws of economics, the marketplace and human behaviour - all of which are inseparable. In its totality, it is the responsibility of marketing to convert the exchange between the company and the consumer into human happiness. Happiness flows from the satisfaction of the consumer out of the purchase made. Everyone in the organisation is a marketing person, regardless of the function performed, contributing to making possible happiness in the marketplace. Thus, the role of marketing is to understand and manage existing, emerging, perceived and pre-empted demand, so that happiness is created in the marketplace, leading to brand loyalty, corporate and trademark goodwill and product standings which, in the collective, reflect market leadership.
Note that the phrase 'human happiness' or 'consumer happiness' occurs a number of times. That is the ultimate aim of effective marketing. The system is governed by laws of economics, market and human behaviour. Since everyone in the organisation is trying to satisfy the consumer by meeting his existing and emerging demand, s/he is a marketing person. Once happiness is created it will lead to goodwill and loyalty which together reflect the market position.
1. behaviour - 'human behaviour' is the appropriate term as it refers to the actions and reactions of people in the market.
2. happiness - 'human happiness' fits with the idea of the end goal of marketing.
3. marketing - 'a marketing person' fits with the context of everyone contributing to marketing efforts.
4. emerging - 'existing, emerging, perceived and pre-empted demand' covers the different types of demand that need to be managed.
5. reflect - 'reflect market leadership' indicates how the results of good marketing practices are shown.
Q6: Read the text and answer the question by choosing correct options. More than one option is correct.
Several marine animals, including green sea turtles, tiger sharks and Antarctic fur seals, have been observed swimming in circles, but the reason for the behaviour is a mystery.
Tomoko Narazaki at the University of Tokyo in Japan unexpectedly discovered this circling behaviour while studying the navigation of green sea turtles off the coast of one of the islands in the Indian Ocean. She had been tracking the homing capabilities of green turtles when they were moved away from their breeding ground, and noticed that the tracking data showed multiple circling events when the turtles returned to the coastal waters off their nesting beaches. One turtle swam in large circles 76 times, with each loop taking 16 to 20 seconds. Narazaki reported her findings to colleagues who used the same tracking tags on other marine animals. In their own data on other species, they found similar circling behaviour.
"These underwater loops could be related to foraging, similar to how humpback whales encircle their prey and ensnare them in a net of air bubbles," says Narazaki. However, some of the circling behavior seems clearly not related to eating. A male tiger shark was seen circling to get close to a female for courtship. Circling for navigation is also a potential explanation. "Homing turtles did the turning behaviour at seemingly navigationally important points," says Narazaki. How green sea turtles navigate isn't well understood, but previous research has shown that they are able to detect magnetic fields. Circling might allow the turtles to detect magnetic fields from different directions, and repeating the behaviour would provide multiple measurements to help calibrate their position.
What could be the reasons behind some marine animals swimming in circles?
Options:
1. For locating direction of their nests
2. For detection of the right course
3. For attracting partner of opposite sex
4. For making their presence known
5. For searching for food
6. For marking important navigation points
Ans: (2,3,5)
Option 2 is correct as the passage mentions 'Circling for navigation is also a potential explanation.'
Option 6 is incorrect as there is no mention of marking navigation points for themselves or others.
Option 5 is correct as the passage mentions 'These underwater loops could be related to foraging ...'
Option 3 is correct as the passage mentions 'A male tiger shark was seen circling to get close to a female for courtship.'
Q7: The text items below have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by Choosing the correct sequence.
1. They are using them to communicate, and will even use their pincers to make drumming noises!
2. Still others live full time on land, but always near water of some type.
3. Some crabs live exclusively in the ocean, some along the shoreline, while some others live in freshwater instead of the saltwater environment of the ocean.
4. Ever wonder why crabs wave pincers around?
Ans:
4. Ever wonder why crabs wave pincers around?
1. They are using them to communicate, and will even use their pincers to make drumming noises!
3. Some crabs live exclusively in the ocean, some along the shoreline, while some others live in freshwater instead of the saltwater environment of the ocean.
2. Still others live full time on land, but always near water of some type.
Sentence 4 opens the discussion with a simple question to raise interest about the topic of crabs. Sentence 1 follows by answering the question. 'Still others' in sentence 2 continues the discussion on some crabs...some others... Thus 4-1-3-2 is the answer.
Q8: The text items below have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order by Choosing the correct sequence
1. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life and are also linked ecologically to nearby sea-grass and mangrove communities.
2. That service as a center of activity for marine life is one of the reasons coral reefs are so highly valued.
3. Coral is a class of colonial animal in this ecosystem that is related to hydroids, jellyfish, and sea anemones.
4. Coral reef ecosystems are intricate and diverse collections of species that interact with each other and the physical environment.
Ans:
4. Coral reef ecosystems are intricate and diverse collections of species that interact with each other and the physical environment.
3. Coral is a class of colonial animal in this ecosystem that is related to hydroids, jellyfish, and sea anemones.
1. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life and are also linked ecologically to nearby sea-grass and mangrove communities.
2. That service as a center of activity for marine life is one of the reasons coral reefs are so highly valued.
Sentence 4 introduces the coral reef ecosystem and thus opens the discussion; sentence 3 describes what a coral is. That gives us the 4-3 link. 'That service' in sentence 2 refers to 'Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life' in sentence 1, giving us the 1-2 link. Thus 4-3-1-2 is the answer.
Q9: In the text below some words are missing. choose words from the given options appropriate place in the text.
Appertisation refers to processes where the only organisms that _____(1) processing are non-pathogenic and incapable of developing within the product under normal conditions of storage. The term was coined as an _____ (2) to the still widely used description 'commercially sterile' which was objected to on the ______ (3) that sterility is not a relative concept; a material is either sterile or it is not. An appertised or commercially sterile food is not necessarily sterile — completely free from ______(4) organisms.
Options: (sterilise / survive / alternative / base / grounds / viable / replacement)
Ans:
Appertisation refers to processes where the only organisms that survive processing are non-pathogenic and incapable of developing within the product under normal conditions of storage. The term was coined as an alternative to the still widely used description 'commercially sterile' which was objected to on the grounds that sterility is not a relative concept; a material is either sterile or it is not. An appertised or commercially sterile food is not necessarily sterile — completely free from viable organisms.
survive – the other words don't create meaning in context; organisms will not 'sterilise' processing.
alternative – a word beginning with a vowel is required after 'an'.
grounds – 'on the grounds' is a phrasal usage.
viable – something will be sterile if it is free of 'viable' or live organisms.
Q10: In the text below some words are missing. choose words from the given options appropriate place in the text.
"If I can't _____(1) something, I just double the price." That's what Ernst Beyeler, the great Swiss dealer who helped found Art Basel, reportedly _____ (2). Some people actually prefer to pay more than makes sense. Zelizer explains that, in all walks of life, we treat the biggest sums _____ (3), with special respect or even awe, than we treat more-everyday money. "I think very often the price paid for a work is the ______(4) itself."
Options: (said / make / differently / question / trophy / sell / slowly)
Ans:
"If I can't sell something, I just double the price." That's what Ernst Beyeler, the great Swiss dealer who helped found Art Basel, reportedly said. Some people actually prefer to pay more than makes sense. Zelizer explains that, in all walks of life, we treat the biggest sums differently, with special respect or even awe, than we treat more-everyday money. "I think very often the price paid for a work is the trophy itself."
The text is about high price items commanding respect in eyes of the purchaser. So, an art collector might sell an unsold item at double the price as a premium item. So, high price items sell differently because the high price is sometimes treated as a trophy in itself.
Q11: In the text below some words are missing. choose words from the given options appropriate place in the text.
Mattson was lecturing on a _____(1) programme on whether a strict diet can help ward off brain ______(2) and disease. He'd generated data to back up the theory: If you put a rat on a limited ______(3) schedule—depriving it of food every other day—and then blocked one of its cerebral arteries to ______(4) a stroke, its brain damage would be greatly reduced. The same had been engineered to develop something like Parkinson's disease: Take away their food, and their ______(5) stay healthier.
Options: (research / brains / activity / feeding / bring / damage / software / induce)
Ans:
Mattson was lecturing on a research programme on whether a strict diet can help ward off brain damage and disease. He'd generated data to back up the theory: If you put a rat on a limited feeding schedule—depriving it of food every other day—and then blocked one of its cerebral arteries to induce a stroke, its brain damage would be greatly reduced. The same had been engineered to develop something like Parkinson's disease: Take away their food, and their brains stay healthier.
What is being conducted is research. Brain damage and disease make coherent sense (two negative attributes). ‘Depriving it of food’ is an easy clue for feeding schedule. Blocking of blood supply will induce a stroke. ‘Brains’ is a repeat word, easy to catch from the context.
Q12: In the text below some words are missing. choose words from the given options appropriate place in the text.
Has he _____(1) all this material? Does he know the limits of the studies he draws on? I cannot answer these questions in all the ______(2), but in the areas I do know his knowledge holds up very _____(3). I was ready to ______(4) him stacking the deck or twisting arguments and evidence about war. While he does miss some nuances, these are not of _____(5) consequence.
Options: (catch / discover / major / relative / fields / understood / allow / well)
Ans:
Has he understood all this material? Does he know the limits of the studies he draws on? I cannot answer these questions in all the fields, but in the areas I do know his knowledge holds up very well. I was ready to catch him stacking the deck or twisting arguments and evidence about war. While he does miss some nuances, these are not of major consequence.
The author seems to support the studies done by a particular researcher, although the author can't say whether the researcher has understood all the material in all the fields. In the author's own field, of course the researcher has done quite well, and some errors that the author could catch are not of major consequence.
Q13: Read the text and answer the question by choosing correct options. Only one option is correct.
The Living Coral Biobank plans to collect and house more than 800 species of the world's hard corals in a dedicated facility in Port Douglas, northern Australia. The biobank is a biodiversity insurance policy, says Dean Miller, director of the Living Coral Biobank Project. "We're keeping this living stock of corals alive should we need to use them for restoration and rehabilitation activities," says Miller, adding that having to replant coral reefs is a "worst-case scenario".
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced three mass bleaching events in the past five years, which has been especially catastrophic in the northern part of the reef. The reef has lost more than half of its coral colonies since 1995.
What is the purpose behind founding of the biobank?
1. To increase diversity in coral reefs
2. To ensure survival of coral reefs in the future
3. To exhibit the different species of coral reefs
4. To reduce the number of mass bleaching events
Ans: (2)
The passage mentions 'We're keeping this living stock of corals alive should we need to use them for restoration and rehabilitation activities, says Miller, adding that having to replant coral reefs is a worst-case scenario.'
Q14: Read the text and answer the question by choosing correct options. Only one option is correct.
What is the author's recipe for future progress? We need high-paying jobs to avoid thinking about how to compete with China and India for low-paying jobs. We need rapid growth to meet the wishful expectations of our retirement plans and our runaway welfare states. We need science and technology to dig us out of our deep economic and financial hole, even though most of us cannot separate science from superstition or technology from magic. In our hearts and minds, we know that desperate optimism will not save us. Progress is neither automatic nor mechanistic; it is rare. So, rather than arresting and reversing the decline, we could do worse.
1. Arresting and reversing the decline
2. Continued domination of the west
3. High-paying jobs
4. Developments in science and technology
Ans: (4)
"We need science and technology to dig us out of our deep economic and financial hole." Others are the fruit of progress, not the recipe for progress.
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