Practice Doc: SNAP 2019 For English | Additional Study Material for CAT PDF Download

1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjunction. 
You must start at once; ……… you will be late. 
(a) otherwise 
(b) than  
(c) until 
(d) unless
Ans. (a)
Solution: 
In the given sentence, there is compulsion (must) in the 1st part, or face the result (which is being late here). So, otherwise is the appropriate conjunction.

2. Find the synonym of the given word.
Abnegation
(a) sacrifice 
(b) renunciation  
(c) praise 
(d) indulgence  
Ans. (b)
Solution: 
Abnegation means an act of renouncing or rejecting something. So, renunciation is its synonym.

3. Which of the following is an antonym of the given word?
Abjure  
(a) deny 
(b) profess  
(c) reject 
(d) drop
Ans. (b)
Solution: 
Abjure means to reject or deny. Therefore, its antonym can be declare or profess.

4. Which of the following is a synonym of the given word?  
Lingua franca  
(a) universal language
(b) second language
(c) common language
(d) mother tongue
Ans. (c)
Solution: 
Lingua franca refers to a language that is adopted as a common language between its users (speakers) whose native languages are different. So, ‘Common  language’ is its closest meaning word.

5. Which of the following is opposite in meaning to the given word.
Petulant
(a) peevish
(b) bad tempered
(c) amiable
(d) impatient 
Ans. (c)
Solution: 
Petulant means bad-tempered or grumpy. Therefore, its antonym can be good-humoured or amiable.

6. Which of the following is the odd one out?
(a) Exacerbate
(b) Alleviate
(c) Mitigate
(d) Assuage
Ans. (a)
Solution:
Out of the given options, option (b) (Alleviate),  (c) (Mitigate) and (d) (Assuage) means to make a problem less severe. On the other hand Exacerbate means to make a problem worse or to increase a problem. Hence, option (a) is odd one out.

7. Change the voice of the given sentence. 
I didn’t realise that somebody was watching me.  
(a) I didn’t realised that I was being watched. 
(b) I didn’t realise that somebody had been watching me. 
(c) I didn’t realise that somebody was watching.
(d) I didn’t realise that I was being watched.
Ans. (d)
Solution:
“I didn’t realise that I was being watched”, is the correct passive voice sentence of the given sentence, because the sentence is in past continuous and to change it in passive voice “was/were + being + V3“ should be used.

8. Complete the meaning of the given sentence.
If you behaved well, your peers ……… you.
(a) will respect
(b) should respect
(c) can respect
(d) would respect
Ans. (d)
Solution: 
This is a conditional sentences, so the filler ‘would respect’ makes the sentence grammatically correct and contextually meaningful.

9. Choose the correct word from the given options.
The defence lawyer ……… there was insufficient evidence to convict his client.
(a) negated
(b) reiterated
(c) renounce
(d) exclaimed
Ans. (b)
Solution:
Other options don’t fit in the context. Only option b makes the sentence meaningful. The correct word is ‘reiterated’ to fill the given blank which means repeated.  

10. Choose the correct word from the given options. 
The stars were ……… in the sky. 
(a) scintillating
(b) showering
(c) invisible
(d) dimming 
Ans. (a)
Solution:
Stars shine in the sky, so the correct word for the given blank is ‘scintillating’, which means shining.

11. Choose the word NOT having a prefix.
(a) Distemper
(b) Dislike
(c) Dishonest
(d) Disagree
Ans. (a)
Solution: 
Out of the given options, the word distemper has no prefix. All other words have dis-as prefix to become an antonym of the root word.

12. Identify the correct figure of speech.
I must have called out to you a thousand times.
(a) simile
(b) repetition
(c) hyperbole
(d) oxymoron
Ans. (c)
Solution: 
There is an exaggeration of a thought or idea. Therefore, it is a hyperbole, wherein an exaggerated statement is presented.

13. Which of the following is an antonym of the given word?
Servile
(a) Imperious
(b) Humorous
(c) Helpful
(d) Conspiratorial  
Ans. (a)
Solution: 
Servile means someone who is extremely willing to act to be obeyed. Therefore, out of the given options, Imperious is its correct antonym, as it means giving  orders and expecting to be obeyed.

14. Which of the following options is a correct match of grammatical function with the usage of the word “DOWN”.

     A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 1 2 3  
(c) 3 2 4 1
(d) 2 3 1 4
Ans. (B)
Solution:
In sentence (1) the word down means to drink or to consume, which means down is used as a verb. In sentence (2), ‘down’ shows a characteristic quality of a trend. Hence, here it is used as an adjective. In sentence (3), ‘down’ adds to the quality of the verb. Hence, herein it is used as an adverb. In sentence (4), ‘down’ represents the low hills. Hence, it is used as a noun.

15. Which of the following is a synonym of the given word?
Diaphanous  
(a) hard
(b) opaque
(c) thick
(d) transparent 
Ans. (d)
Solution: 
The word given is: Diaphanous, which means sheer, light, and delicate. So, transparent/sheer can be its closest synonym.  

16. Fill in the blanks with correct modal verb.  ……… you mind if I borrowed your car
(a) should 
(b) will
(c) would 
(d) can
Ans. (c)
Solution:
It is a polite request in the sentence given, so the most appropriate modal verb to be used here is ‘would’.  

17. Change the voice of the given sentence.
Windowpanes are washed by cleaners. 
(a) Cleaners work to wash windowpanes 
(b) Cleaners washed the windowpanes
(c) Cleaners wash the windowpanes
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c)
Solution:
The given sentence is in passive voice. To convert it in the active voice the subject and object would be interchanged and 1st form of verb should be used with subject. Hence, the converted sentence would be ‘‘Cleaners wash windowpanes’’.

18. Identify the correct figure of speech in the sentence given below. Neeta needed new notebooks.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Onomatopia
(c) Assonance
(d) Paradox
Ans. (a)
Solution:
In the given sentence, there is a repetition of a consonant sound ‘N’. Such a repetition of sounds is a literary device called “Alliteration”.

19. Which part of speech is the given (bold) word?
This wood will make a good hiding place.
(a) Verb 
(b) Adverb 
(c) Adjective 
(d) Modal 
Ans. (c)
Solution:
It seems to be a verb, but in the given sentence, it presents a characteristic quality of the place. So, it is an adjective.

20. Choose the correct option of the following incorrect sentence. 
No matter what that I do, I can’t make her happy.
(a) No matter what I do, I won’t make her happy.
(b) No matter what I do, I can’t make her happy.
(c) No matter what I do, that I won’t make her happy.
(d) No matter whatever I do, I won’t ever make her happy.
Ans. (b)
Solution: 
To make the given sentence grammatically correct and contextually meaningful, only ‘that’ must be removed. So, option (b) is its correct answer.  

21. Fill in the blank with proper conditional clause.
Suppose your car broke down in the middle of nowhere, what ………… do? 
(a) should you 
(b) will you 
(c) can you
(d) would you
Ans. (d)
Solution:
As the situation is conditional and asks what ones actions would be, ‘would you’ would be the most appropriate filler for the given blank.  

22. Fill in the blank with appropriate option:
I ………… anything from her in a long time.
(a) did not heard 
(b) should not have heard
(c) haven’t heard
(d) None of these
Ans. (c)
Solution:
Did not heard is grammatically incorrect. Also, as the sentence is in present perfect form, ‘haven’t heard’ is the most appropriate filler.

23. Read this sentence and answer the three questions to fill the blanks therein:
Construction: When the engineer visited the  …………, the chaos of cement, steel and sand  was a horrible …………, so, he had no option  but to ………… that in his report.
(a) site, sight, cite 
(b) cite, site, sight  
(c) cite, sight, site
(d) sight, site, sight
Ans. (a)
Solution:
Site means a piece of land where a building was, is or will be situated. Sight means able to see in the  way mentioned. Cite means to mention something as an example especially one that supports, proves or  explains an idea or situation. The correct order of the words to fill the blanks are site, sight, cite, to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually meaningful.

Directions (Q. Nos. 24-26) Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following this within the context.
‘‘A way to deal with frozen feelings’’ Every child experiences all that happens around him with total  awareness. In the first seven years the child’s brain is  like a sponge, taking in all sensory inputs and building his idea of his surroundings. As long as the environment  is safe, the child learns with incredible speed. However, when the environment is scary or stressful, the child unlearns past learning just as rapidly.
In the early years of every child’s life, whenever there is shock, violence, fear or pain, these intense emotions are imprinted deeply into memory. Whenever the same activity or situation is repeated, the nervous system and body subconsciously reexperience the memory of that  trauma. Any emotional situation that takes us out of the present and into the past means that whenever the same  kind of emotion crops up later in our life we return to  the past for our reference point. If that point was at age  three, we find ourselves behaving like a three-year-old. We feel childish and we behave childishly. Our feelings are the cause of this ‘glitch’ in our learning process. We know we should be able to make a positive change, but  that doesn’t change anything. The process of change need not be traumatic. We couldn’t have done any better because we didn’t know how to. But we should realise  that was then and this is now! We can choose to choose  again. It’s up to us. It’s our movie!  
24. The ‘‘Frozen Feelings’’ being talked about are about which of the following? 
(a) negative childhood experiences  
(b) childhood learning patterns  
(c) inability to learn as an adult  
(d) None of the above
Ans. (a)
Solution:
According to the given passage, the frozen feeling are those experiences of shock, violence, fear or pain that has a deep impact on the child. Such a negative childhood experience is imprinted forever into the child’s mind. That’s why option a is correct.

25. A ‘glitch’ is
(a) a ditch  
(b) uneasy emotions
(c) sudden malfunction or breakdown
(d) learning patterns
Ans. (c)
Solution:
As per the stanza, a glitch refers to an unusual behaviour generally a sudden malfunction or breakdown that results due to the frozen feelings.

26. Which of the following is a correct sentence, based on the paragraph?
(a) The process of change needs to be traumatic.
(b) We feel childish and we behave childishly.
(c) Both sentences are incorrect.
(d) Both the sentences are correct.
Ans. (b)
Solution:
There are glitches in ones behaviour due to frozen feelings. Due to these glitches, one feels childish and behaves childlishly.

Directions (Q. Nos. 27-31) Read the following passage and answer the questions: 
‘‘There are several factors that contribute to wisdom. Of these I should put first a sense of proportion; the capacity to take accounts of all the important factors in a problem and to attach to each its due weight. This has become more difficult than it used to be owing to the  extent and complexity of the specialised knowledge required of various kinds of technicians. Suppose, for example, that you are engaged in research in scientific medicine. The work is difficult and is likely to absorb the whole of your intellectual energy. You have no time to consider the effect which your discoveries or invention may have outside the field of medicine. You succeed (let us say), as modern medicine has succeeded, in enormously lowering the infant death-rate, not only in Europe and America, but also in Asia and Africa.
This has the entirely unintended result of making the food supply inadequate and lowering the standard of life in the most populous parts of the world. To take an even more spectacular example, which is in everybody’s mind at the present time- you study the composition of the atom from a disinterested desire for knowledge and incidentally place in the hands of powerful lunatics the means of destroying  the human race. In such ways the pursuit of knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with wisdom; and wisdom in the sense of comprehensive vision is not necessarily present in specialists in the pursuit of  knowledge. Comprehensiveness alone, however, is not  enough to constitute wisdom. There must be, also, certain awareness of ends of human life.
This may be illustrated by the study of history. Many eminent historians have done more harm than good because they viewed facts  through the distorting medium of their own passions. Hegel had a philosophy of history which did not suffer from any lack of comprehensiveness, since it started from earliest time and continued into an indefinite future. But the chief lesson of history which he sought to inculcate was that from the year A.D. 400 down to his own time, Germany had been the most important nation and the standard bearer of progress in the world. Perhaps one  could stretch the comprehensiveness that constitutes wisdom to include not only intellect but also feeling. It is by no means uncommon to find men/women whose knowledge is wide but those feelings are narrow. Such men/ women lack what I am calling wisdom. I think the essence of wisdom is emancipation, as far as possible, from the tyranny of the here and the now. We cannot help the egoism of our senses. Sight, sound and touch are  bound up with our own bodies and cannot be made impersonal.
Our emotions start similarly from ourselves. An infant feels hunger or discomfort; gradually with the years his horizon widens, and, in proportion as his  thoughts and feelings become less personal and less concerned with his own physical states, he achieves growing wisdom. This is of course a matter of degree. No one can view the world with complete impartiality; however, it is possible to make a continual approach towards impartiality, on the one hand, by knowing things  somewhat remote in time or space, and, on the other hand, by giving to such things their due weight in our feelings. It is this approach towards impartiality that constitutes growth in wisdom.
Perhaps in this sense the wisdom can be taught. I think that this teaching should have a larger intellectual element than has been customary in what has been thought of as moral instruction. I think that the disastrous result of hatred and narrow mindedness to those who fed them can be pointed out incidentally in the course of giving  knowledge.
Knowledge and morals ought not to be too much separated. It is true that the kind of specialised knowledge which is required for various kinds of skills has very little to do with wisdom. But it should be supplemented in education by wider surveys calculated to put it in its place in the totality of human activities.
Even the best technicians should also be good citizens, i.e. citizens of the world and not of any one nation.
With every increase of knowledge and skill, wisdom becomes more necessary for every such increase augments our capacity of realising our purposes, and therefore augments our capacity for evil, if our purposes are unwise. The world needs wisdom as it has never needed it before; and if knowledge continues to increase, the world will need wisdom in the future even more than it does now.
27. According to the author what results in growth of wisdom? 
(a) Widening knowledge and narrowing feelings
(b) Acquiring specialised knowledge which is required  for various kinds of skills
(c) Viewing the world with complete impartiality 
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c)
Solution:
According to the author, viewing the world with complete impartiality results in growth of wisdom.  

28. According to the author the essence of  wisdom is …………
(a) Deliverance from the oppression of here and now 
(b) Subduing from the oppression of here and now
(c) Captivity from the oppression of here and now
(d) All of the above
Ans. (b)
Solution:
As per the passage given, the essence of wisdom is subduing from the oppression here and now. To get emancipated or free from ‘‘the tyranny of the here and the now’’.

29. What according to the author is the relationship between knowledge and wisdom? 
(a) As human wisdom increases there is increase in knowledge created 
(b) As knowledge keeps on increasing there is lesser need of wisdom
(c) As knowledge keeps on increasing there is a higher need for wisdom
(d) As growth in wisdom stops, knowledge creation stagnates.
Ans. (c)
Solution:
According to the author, as knowledge keeps on increasing there is a higher need for wisdom.

30. The example used by the author to explain  the ways in which the pursuit of knowledge  can be harmful, unless combined with  wisdom, is 
(a) the space mission 
(b) medicine that lowers infant mortality across the world
(c) the progress of Germany
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b)
Solution:
The example used by the author to explain the ways in which the pursuit of knowledge can be harmful, unless combined will wisdom, is medicine that lowers infant mortality across the world.

31. What factors according to the author, contribute to wisdom?
(a) A sense of proportion, giving knowledge, study of  history, emancipation  
(b) A sense of proportion, dignity, knowledge, skill
(c) Comprehensiveness, a sense of proportion, awareness of the end of human life, emancipation  from the tyranny of the present
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c)
Solution:
According to the author, comprehensiveness, a  sense of proportion, awareness of the end of human  life, emacipation from tyranny of the present, together contribute to wisdom.

Directions (Q. Nos. 32 and 33) Read each of the components of the given sentences and mark the component with grammatical error. 
32. 
I. He is capable at  
II. twisting any fact  
III. without any suspicion  
IV. at any time  
(a) Only I 
(b) Only II 
(c) Only III 
(d) Only IV
Ans. (a)
Solution:
In statement I ‘at’ must be replaced by of to make the sentence grammatically correct.

33. 
I. My cousin brother, who lives
II. in Goa, is eager to visit us
III. in Mumbai and aspires to have
IV. a glimpse of the city
(a) Only I
(b) Only II
(c) Only III
(d) Only IV
Ans. (a)
Solution:
In statement I, the punctuation (,) used after my cousin brother must be removed to make the sentence grammatically correct.

34. Match the following idiomatic references to  parts of the human anatomy.

Codes
    A B C D
(a) 4 2 1 3 
(b) 1 3 2 4
(c) 3 4 2 1
(d) 2 4 1 3
Ans. (c)
Solution: 
Parts of human anatomy and their idiomatic  phrases are:
1. Palm is used when blame is put on someone else.
2. Foot is used when someone is forced to pay the bill.
3. Eye is used to look at someone with envy and desire.
4. Stomach is used to refer to the act of not tolerating the insult.
Hence, (c) is the correct option.