Theory
Vocabulary refers to the set of words that an individual knows and uses in a particular language. It includes words and phrases that are used for communication, including both spoken and written language. A person's vocabulary is made up of different types of words, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and so on. It also includes words that are specific to a particular topic or subject area, such as scientific or technical terms. Vocabulary is considered an important aspect of language proficiency, as a larger vocabulary allows for greater fluency and the ability to express oneself more effectively.
Tips
- If a vocabulary question is asked in a passage, then even if you do not know the meaning of the word, you can still answer the question by understanding the context of the passage. Also, in this type of questions, the words are often meant in a different way than their actual usage in general language. So, always try to understand the meaning of the context in which the word is used.
- Vocabulary is often important in fill in the blanks’ questions as well. Keep an eye out for the words such as however, but, although, which change the flow of the sentence and hence the word that comes in the blank here must be in sync with the meaning of the sentence.
Solved Example
Question for Cheatsheet: Vocabulary
Try yourself:Direction: In the paragraph below there are five sentences. In each sentence there are pairs of highlighted in underline words (A, B). Select the most appropriate words to form correct sentences. Then from the options given select the correct option.
The Nobel Prize for Chemistry this year is a A) tribute B) retribution to the power of evolution. The laureates A) hated B) harnessed evolution and used it in the laboratory with amazing results. Frances H. Arnold, an American who was given one-half of the prize, used ‘directed evolution’ to A) synthesize B) called variants of naturally occurring enzymes that could be used to manufacture biofuels and pharmaceuticals. The other half went to George P. Smith, also of the U.S., and Sir Gregory P. Winter, from the U.K., who evolved antibodies to A) combat B) confuse autoimmune diseases and even metastatic cancer through a process called phage display. The prizes reaffirm the A) execution B) importance of the concept of evolution in our understanding of life as among the most profound of forces we are exposed to.
Explanation
For blank I, it should be tribute since it correctly explains that the Nobel Prize has been given to recognize the importance of the works done by the scientists. Retribution refers to punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
Coming to Blank II, hated can be ruled out since it does not make any sense in the given context but harnessed should be used in order to imply that the scientists did research regarding the evolution.
Blank III can be filled with synthesize since it correctly explains the meaning of the research carried out by the scientists. The other word is simply irrelevant in the context of the passage.
Blank IV should be filled with A since we are talking about research that has been successful to address the needs of the human beings in addressing various diseases. B can be ruled out easily as the correct option since it is not making any sense in the given context.
Blank V can be filled with B only since the passage talks about the importance accorded to the research works of the scientists who have been awarded with the Nobel Prize in chemistry this year. This makes the correct combination as ABAAB
Hence, option C is the correct choice among the given options.
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Question for Cheatsheet: Vocabulary
Try yourself:Direction: In the paragraph below there are five sentences. In each sentence there are pairs of highlighted in underline words (A, B). Select the most appropriate words to form correct sentences. Then from the options given select the correct option.
Within months of announcing A) gratuitous B) generous hikes in the minimum support price (MSP) for several crops in the kharif summer season, the NDA government on Wednesday approved an increase in the MSP offered for rabi crops. These increases A) mark B) maximize a sharp change from the cautious approach adopted by the Narendra Modi government in raising MSPs during the first half of its tenure. The latest hikes are generous, even if they are A) moderate B) tremendous compared to those fixed for the kharif crop. By way of A) comparison B) connotation, the highest increase over the previous kharif season’s MSP was 52.5% for the cereal ragi. Now the highest season-on-season A) height B) hike for the rabi crops is 20.6% for safflower.
Explanation
For Blank I, B should be the correct word since the passage denotes that the hike in MSP of the kharif crops was very good and the hike in the MSP of rabi crops is not that much as compared to the previous hike. A can be ruled out as the correct word.
Blank II can be filled with mark since we are talking about the significance of the approach taken by the Government regarding the increase in MSP of the crops. Maximize does not imply the intended meaning and can be ruled out.
Blank III can be filled with moderate since we are talking about the hike in the prices of rabi crops by the government in comparison to the same in case of kharif crops. The hike this time is not as much as it was the last time for the Kharif crops. Tremendous is not fit for the given context and can be eliminated.
Blank IV can be filled with comparison since we are talking about the comparison between the MSP Hikes of kharif crops and the rabi crops. Connotation does not even fit in the given context and hence can be eliminated.
Blank V can be filled with hike rather than height since the whole passage is regarding the hike in the prices of the Kharif Crops and the Rabi crops as announced by the government in the form of the MSP.
The correct combination is BAAAB
This makes option B the correct choice among the given options.
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Question for Cheatsheet: Vocabulary
Try yourself:Direction: In the paragraph below there are five sentences. In each sentence there are pairs of highlighted in underline words (A, B). Select the most appropriate words to form correct sentences. Then from the options given select the correct option.
Waste volumes continue to grow as economic growth A) spurs B) controls consumption. The laws on municipal solid waste, protection of water sources and pollution control are just not being A) enforced B) distributed. The official machinery required to enforce legal provisions vigorously, and the infrastructure to manage waste scientifically are A) utilizing B) inadequate, making it unlikely that there will be significant public health outcomes flowing from highprofile cleaning campaigns. Without full A) confirmation B) commitment to these aspects of development, there is little chance of meaningfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on water and sanitation anytime soon. Besides ending manual scavenging, the Swachh Bharat Mission must A) ensure B) experience that the manual cleaning of septic tanks, which is killing so many workers each year, is stopped and that funds for rehabilitation reach them.
Explanation
For blank I, spurs should be used in order to indicate that the economic growth in the country is contribution towards an increase in the consumption levels of the population of the country. This is also a factor behind the increase in generation of waste in the country. The other word can be ruled out since does not explain the given context properly.
Coming to Blank II, it is clear that the author is talking about enforcing the machinery and it makes A the correct word here. B can be ruled out very easily for this.
Blank III should be filled with B since we are talking about the machinery to implement the municipal laws in the country so that waste management can be made more effective in the country and because of the insufficiency of this mechanism; the country is finding it difficult. A can be ruled out easily as it does not fit in the given context.
Blank IV can be filled with commitment since we are talking about the dedication and determination of the government towards the various facets of development. Confirmation can be ruled out easily from the given context.
Blank V can be filled with ensure since it is very much necessary that the government should make sure that manual scavenging is done away with from the country and experience is not the perfect fit for this given context.
So, the correct combination is AABBA This makes option B the correct choice among the given options.
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Question for Cheatsheet: Vocabulary
Try yourself:Direction: In the paragraph below there are five sentences. In each sentence there are pairs of highlighted in underline words (A, B). Select the most appropriate words to form correct sentences. Then from the options given select the correct option.
Twenty-one opposition parties expressed A) anguish B) felicity over what they alleged was "blatant politicisation" of the sacrifices of armed forces and A) instructed B) urged the government to take the nation into confidence on all measures to A) augment B) protect India's sovereignty, unity and integrity. After a meeting, which A) complied B) lasted over three hours, in the Parliament Library, the leaders of these parties issued a joint statement, expressing concern over the A) prevailing B) remaining security situation in the country.
Explanation
Opposition parties would obviously be distressed over the issue that they are claimed of politicizing such an issue related to Nation’s security. Thus the sequence must start with choice A”anguish”.
Then moving forward we can surely say that opposition can only demand but cannot order or give command to the ruling government, thus use of choice B “urged” is correct.
So, the sequence becomes AB as of now.
Augment means to enhance. Integrity and Sovereignty are the things that cannot be increased but maintained or protected. So, choice B ‘protected’ is suitable.
Complied means to meet some standards which is purely absurd, thus again choice B ’lasted’ remains more suitable here. The series now becomes ABBB.
“Prevailing” shows the current scenario whereas “remaining” reflects something left out. The opposition has gathered for a current issue, thus prevailing should be used in place of remaining.
Thus the series is ABBBA.
Hence option B is correct.
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Question for Cheatsheet: Vocabulary
Try yourself:Directions: In the given question, a word has been mentioned and there are three ways in which the word has been used in either similar or different ways. You are required to check which of the sentences have correctly used the highlighted word, and mark that as your answer.
Fudge
I. All the participants were treated with a square of fudge at the entrance of the conference.
II. The government has been fudging the figures of GDP to show that the economy is in the pink of its health.
III. This new offer of settlement is excellent going by the terms and conditions and it seems the management really wants it to be the fudge that has been missing from the negotiations.
Explanation
Sentence I: All the participants were treated with a square of fudge at the entrance of the conference. Here, the word ‘fudge’ means a chewy and soft sweet made from sugar. It is generally used to denote the quantity of ice cream such as a fudge of ice cream.
Sentence II: The government has been fudging the figures of GDP to show that the economy is in the pink of its health. In this sentence, it implies that the government has been manipulating the figures to serve its own purpose.
Sentence III: This new offer of settlement is excellent going by the terms and conditions and it seems the management really wants it to be the fudge that has been missing from the negotiations.
Here, the word ‘fudge’ is used in the wrong sense since it actually refers to a compromise or settlement to win hearts temporarily whereas in the given sentence, it has been shown in the good sense.
So, option A is the correct choice.
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