1.

I. The climatic(A)/climactic(B) moment of the mystery revealed the murderer to be the character least suspected by all. II. He was criticized for his contemptuous(A)/contemptible(B) behavior in the class. III. In order to not get noticed, he kept a discreet(A)/discrete(B) distance while following her. IV. His childlike(A)/childish(B) pranks did not go down well with his classmates. V. The dining(A)/dinning(B) room was already full of guests when I entered. OPTIONS 1) BABAB 2) ABBAA 3) BBAAB 4) BBABA 5) ABABA 1. Climactic is the adjective form of the word climax. Climatic is the adjective of Climate. Hence, the correct answer is B. Contemptible means deserving contempt while contemptuous means feeling contempt. Hence, the correct answer is B. Discreet means unnoticeable whereas discrete means distinct. Hence, the correct answer is A. Childlike implies positive qualities of a child for example, childlike innocence. Childish means immature. Hence, the correct answer is B. It is a dining room and the word 'dinning' means a loud and confusing noise. Hence, the correct answer is A. Therefore, the pattern should be BBABA. Hence, the correct answer is option 4. 2. I. He was in a dilemma(A)/quandary(B) because of the number of options that the company offered. II. John Keats, dying, expected his poetry to be forgotten, as the epitaph(A)/epigraph(B) he wrote for his tombstone reads: "Here lies one whose name was writ in water. III. We are advancing the date of the trip in order to ensure(A)/insure(B) that we enjoy good weather. IV. The management found it expedient(A)/expeditious(B) to blame the laborers for its own failure. V. The candidates were not informed that the selection process also included an extemporaneous(A)/impromptu(B) speech of three minutes on a surprise topic. 2. Dilemma is a tough choice between two things, and quandary is among many things. Hence, it should be B. Epitaph is an inscription on a tombstone and epigraph is a pithy saying at the beginning of a poem or book. Hence, A.Ensure is to make sure and to insure is to obtain insurance. Hence, A. Expedient means convenient, expeditious means done speedily. Hence, A. Extemporaneous is prepared but done without notes, and impromptu means without preparation. Hence, B.

3. 1. As (A)/Like (B) her dad, she detests dishonesty. 2. The astrologer made a distressing prophecy (A)/prophesy (B). 3. She is a compulsive shopper and least bothered about being economic (A)/economical (B). 4. I am in two minds about if (A)/whether (B) I should work or pursue management education. 3. In statement 1, 'as' is chiefly a conjunction and 'like' is chiefly a preposition. The meaning here is, similar to her dad, ... similar to is a preposition, therefore like her dad is the correct usage. In statement 2, 'prophecy' is noun while 'prophesy' is verb. Since, in this sentence the noun form is required, prophecy is the correct usage. In statement 3, 'economic' is related to economics and 'economical' is cost-effective. In most cases, if and whether can be used interchangeably; in specific cases 'if' is used to indicate uncertainty and 'whether' is used to indicate alternatives. In statement 4 the alternatives are spelled out clearly, hence 'whether' is the correct usage. 4. The distinguished speaker made a (A) ceremonious/ceremonial (B) entry. He was known for his righteous crusade against the dictators, but at the same time was (A) discreet/discrete (B) in voicing his opinions. His (A) opposite/apposite (B) remarks won him accolades from the press and the public. He urged the (A) complacent/complaisant (B) citizens to raise their voices and to constructively complain where improvements are necessary. He reiterated that wrongdoers should get their just (A) deserts/desserts (B). Here, the first word is "ceremonial". "Ceremonious" means displaying excessive ceremony (e.g.Pakhi Pawan made her usual ceremonious entry at the party) whereas, "ceremonial" means with or concerning ritual or ceremony. "Discreet" is using caution in speech or action, and fits in with the idea of the sentence. "Discrete" is 'distinct' or 'separate'. "Apposite" is 'appropriate' or 'suitable' and is hence the correct third word. Between "complacent" and "complaisant", the latter fits the idea of not complaining (and therefore should start complaining constructively) or 'subservient' better than the former; complacent means smugly self-satisfied. The last word is definitely not a piece of cake. This use of "deserts" - which means what one deserves is not that common. "Dessert" is of course the sweet course of a meal. 5. The (A) phenomena/phenomenon (B) was truly splendid. Nothing could (A) detract/distract (B) from the magic of the show. The gravity defying rockets when ignited raced into the sky to burst into a thousand colours and let their (A) crumby/crummy (B) invisible leftovers silently fall to the ground. The spectators could (A) decry/descry (B) miniature crackers exploding close to a big one making designs which were a (A) sheer/shear (B) delight to watch.

5. "Phenomena" is the plural form of "phenomenon". The verb is singular, was, hence the subject is

also singular. Therefore, the first word is "phenomenon". "Detract" works like subtract in some ways. It means, to diminish its value or merit and hence is the word in this context. "Distract" is 'to divide' or 'draw away someones attention'. When we refer to actual crumbs, the use of "crumby" is fine. Here, "crummy" is the word, as it means of little or no value. "Descry" means to catch sight of and thus is the word to be used whereas, "decry" means 'to belittle someone'. The final word is "sheer" which means 'absolute' whereas "shear" means to cut the wool of (a sheep). 6. The atmosphere in the office was (A) taut/taught (B) and the employees were (A) tetchy/touchy (B). They were in a complaining mood, feeling agitated about the latest company policy. This (A) tortuous/torturous (B) new policy outlined more number of working hours and less compensation. The (A) substantive/substantial (B) elements of the policy outlined more stringent rules for both managers and subordinates and greater cost-cuts. Worse, the policy was to be executed (A) writeoff/ right off (B). 6. The first word is "taut" which means 'tight' or 'tense'. The second word is slightly tricky. "Touchy" means over-sensitive whereas "tetchy" means irritable, peevish, making tetchy more appropriate. Also, the next sentence talks about agitated employees, making tetchy correct. The policy can be both "tortuous" which means 'complex' and "torturous" which means 'involving or causing torture'. In the context of the paragraph, the policy is more painful than complicated, hence, torturous is more appropriate here. Again, regarding the fourth word, "substantive" is a better option because of the mention of elements "substantive" means 'relating to the essential elements of a thing'. "Substantial" is a more general word used to mean, having importance' or 'of a considerable amount or quantity. "Right off" means 'immediate' and is the word for the last sentence. To "write-off" something is to acknowledge its complete loss. 7. It had been a thoroughly (A) exhaustive/exhausting (B) experience. The (A) factitious/fractious (B) childs tantrums were never ending. Mother was getting irritated. She had to purchase at least five different toys for her (A) bawling/baulking (B) baby. And yet the child wasnt satisfied. When he pointed to a big toy train, with his wailing in (A) continuation/continuance (B), her frustration was (A) complimented/complemented (B). 7. The first word is "exhausting" which means 'tiring'. "Exhaustive" means to use up the whole of or comprehensive.The second word is "fractious" which means 'irritable' or 'peevish' whereas "factitious" means 'artificial' or 'contrived'.The child was irritable and his "bawling" - 'crying', 'wailing', 'howling' - the third word, was making his mother frustrated. "Baulk" means to 'recoil' or 'pull back'. The fourth word is "continuation" which means 'to continue' or 'resume whereas, "continuance" relates mainly to the sense to be still in existence. The last word is "complemented" which relates more to 'completing something' rather than "complimented" which means to praise'.

8.This book is a (A) classic/classical (B) example of brilliant (A) etymological/entomological (B) research. A detailed analysis of the chapters would (A) connote/denote (B) more interpretations and insights than the mere meaning of scientific words and terms. (A) Beside/Besides (B) the general introductory session which explains the significance of these tiny creatures, there are sections which devote entirely to the evolutionary and futuristic aspect of these. The (A) distinct/distinctive (B) thing about this book is that it delves into the subject like no other book has ever done. 8. "Classic", the word here, means acknowledged excellence or remarkably typical. "Classical" has more to do with serious art or is used in reference with ancient art or literature. The next word, though not easily figured out in the reading of the first few lines can be deduced after reading the third sentence. Tiny creatures definitely relates to insects - "entomology" is the 'study of insects' and "etymology" is the 'study of word origins' - than words. "Denote" means 'to be a mark or sign of' whereas "connote" - the correct word in this context - refers to 'signify or suggest'. "Besides" is used to mean, apart from whereas "beside" means next to. Though both "distinct" and "distinctive" are related to distinguished as not being the same, there are differences in usage. "Distinct" means essentially 'separate whereas "distinctive" means 'notable' or 'having a special quality' (thing about this book). 9.(i) The students appeared completely uninterested (A) / disinterested (B) in the course. (ii) I found the gathering at his birthday party quite amiable (A) / amicable (B). (iii) The student found her friends comments incipient (A) / insipid (B)- and ignored them. (iv) The invalid had a vehicle specially (A) / especially (B) made for him. (v) The speaker appeared well prepared for his extemporaneous (A) / impromptu (B) speech 9. Uninterested means not interestedwhile Disinterested means unbiased. Here, uninterested would be correct since the likelihood is that the students were not interested in the course. Unbiased would be incorrect, contextually.Amiable means friendly; Amicable means a desire not to quarrel. Amiable would be the correct word in this context since a gathering can only be described as friendly in this context.Incipient means beginning to occur while Insipid means tasteless and is the correct word since comments can only be tasteless not beginning to occur.Specially means for a specific reason while Especially means particularly, or exceptionally and is the correct word here. Extemporaneous means delivered without any notes. Impromptu means without preparation. Extemporaneous is the correct word here since the speaker appeared well prepared for the speech and Impromptu would contradict this.Hence, the correct answer is AABBA. 10. The (A) castor/caster (B) had just arrived home. He had (A) munched/minced (B) on raw onions with his food. As soon he started talking, his wife gave him a (A) baleful/baneful (B) look. For (A) awhile/a while (B) he did not understand. Once he did, he immediately put a (A) cashew/cachou (B) in his mouth. 10.Castor is a type of oil. Caster, comes from cast and means one who casts. Since, the paragraph refers to a person, the word is caster.One munches on food and mincing is a process of cutting or

chopping something. Hence, the correct word is 'munching'.Baneful means causing harm or destruction. Since the casters wife only wants to only threaten and not cause any harm, the third word is baleful, which means a menacing influence.Awhile, an adverb is never preceded by a preposition like for. Therefore, a while is suitable.Cashew is an edible nut whereas, cachou, our last word refers to a lozenge used for sweetening breath. The second word is more suitable in this context. Hence, the correct answer is BAABB. 11. The heads of the nation worked for the (A) ascent/assent (B) of the country. They wanted it to reach (A) autarchy/autarky (B). With economic self-sustainability and good governance, they hoped to pick up the (A) dissembled/disassembled (B) pieces and put them back together. They asked the (A) depositary/depository (B) to release funds with due wisdom. They asked the people to (A) detract/detrain (B) themselves from anything against development and freedom. 11.Assent is saying yes, or agreeing to some point to view, whereas, ascent is climbing up or climb. Our first word is ascent, as the author speaks about the upward movement or rise of the country.Autarchy is similar to autocracy or despotism. When we speak about good governance and more importantly economic self-sustainability the word is autarky.Disassembled- taken apart is the opposite of assembled. The country leaders want the taken apart pieces of the country to be put together. Dissemble is to disguise or conceal under a false appearance.Depositary is our next word which means a trustee. Although, depository is sometimes used for this, a trustee is specifically a depositary while depository also means a place for safe keeping.Detrain is to leave or cause to leave a railroad train, whereas our word is detract- divert ones attention or focus from. Hence, the correct answer is ABBAA. 12. 1. How can you proscribe (A) / prescribe for (B) others, when you are unable to heal yourself? 2. His silence is tantamount to (A) / paramount with (B) an admission of guilt 3. The critics have degraded their (A) / denigrated our (B) efforts. 4. Our professor is very amiable and (A) / amenable and (B) does not get easily annoyed. 12.Proscribe implies a ban. Prescribe implies ordering the use of a medicine or other treatment and would be the apt word here. Tantamount means equal to; paramount means supreme. Tantamount is the correct word contextually. Denigrate is to belittle or defame and is the appropriate word in the context of the sentence.Degrade means a lowering of grade. Hence, the correct answer is BABA.

13.i. I have a turgid (A) / turbid (B) limb. ii. The award winning actors performance on the screen was exceptional (A) /exceptionable (B). iii. The animal looked like a young deer and was fawn (A) / faun (B) in colour. iv. For years, 'experts' have told cat owners that domestic cats are insocial (A) / unsociable (B) creatures that dislike the company of other cats. v. The media has reported several times about the venial (A) / venal (B) arrangement that the citys mafia has with the police.

Turbid is generally used in reference to a liquid and means 'cloudy or opaque'; turgid means swollen and is the correct word here. Exceptionable means open to objection; exceptional means excellent. The actors performance was exceptional. A fawn is a young deer, and a light brown colour; a faun is a Roman deity that is part man, part goat. In this case, the animal was light brown in colour.Unsociable means not enjoying the company of or engaging in activities with others; insocial is not a word.Venal means associated with bribery; corruptible; venial, is used in Christian theology in reference to a minor sin. Hence, the correct answer is AAABB. 14.1. In the absence of a queue, we could not find out whos (A) / whose (B) turn came next. 2. At the funeral, several wreathes (A) / wreaths (B) were placed on the grave of the deceased. 3. During his speech he made the ironic (A) / sardonic (B) observation that the politicians could always be trusted. 4. The judges were uninterested (A) / disinterested (B) in the outcome of the case. 5. The administrative division of India is composed (A) / comprises (B) of 28 states and 7 union territories. 14. Who's is a contraction of who is or who has, while whose is the possessive, used in questions such as whose is this? and whose turn is it? Whose is the correct word contextually. Wreath (n and v) with no 'e' at the end means 'arrangement of flowers'. Hence the plural wreaths; while wreathe with an 'e' is a verb meaning 'envelop, surround, or encircle'. Wreaths is the correct word contextually. Ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant: made the ironic observation that the government could always be trusted. Sardonicimplies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression: surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile. Uninterested means to find something boring or dull. Disinterested means impartial. Comprise is a verb meaning to consist of or be composed of. Compose means to make up the constituent parts of. If we use comprises the sentence should read: ... division of India comprises 28 states and ... Hence, the correct answer is BBABA. 15. 1. The prerequisites (A) / perquisites (B) of this job include health insurance and a performance bonus. 2. I am always ready to take the risk of being tedious in order to be sure that I am perspicuous (A) / perspicacious (B). 3. My principle (A) / principal (B) sells steel forged items. 4. Marijuana is prescribed (A) / proscribed (B) in the U.S because it is a deadly narcotic. 5. It was regretful (A) / regrettable (B) that the teacher made the class retake the test when he was wrong about the answers. 15.A perquisite is a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position; prerequisite is something that is required as a prior condition for something else. Perquisite is the correct word here. Therefore, options 2 and 5 are eliminated.

Perspicuous means 'expressing things clearly' and is the apt word here while perspicacious means 'having a ready understanding of things'. Therefore, option 3 is eliminated. Principal in this context means a company represented by a sales person. Principle means an accepted rule of action or conduct and is inappropriate in this context. Proscribe is a rather formal word meaning 'condemn or forbid' and is the correct word here, whereas prescribe means either 'issue a medical prescription' or 'recommend with authority'. Therefore, option 1 is eliminated. Do not confuse regretful which means 'feeling or showing regret', with regrettable which means 'giving rise to regret; undesirable'. Regrettable is apt in this context. Hence, the correct answer is BABBB. 16. 1. His was a life devoted to and wasted in mere sensual (A) / sensuous (B) pleasures. 2. Spent in enjoyments of extravagance, pleasure, or sensual gratifications he had a long and luxurious (A) / voluptuous (B) holiday. 3. Teenagers are often veracious (A) / voracious (B) eaters. 4. They have a tertiary (A) / ternary (B) number system, because of the importance they give to the number three. 5. He is one of Indias premier (A) / premiere (B) industrialists. 16. Sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure; the sensuous delights of great music. Sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves. Sensual would be apt in the context of the sentence. Luxurious suggests the providing of or indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor; a luxurious hotel. Voluptuous implies more strongly abandonment especially to sensual pleasure; a voluptuous feast. voluptuous is the apt word in this context. Veracious is truthful, honest or accurate. Voracious means ravenous or having a huge appetite and is the correct word in this context. Ternary is based on the number three. Tertiary means third in place, order, degree, or rank. Here, we want to express a number system based on the number three. Premier (adj) means first in rank and is the correct word contextually. Premiere as a noun means first performance. Premiere is not an adjective. Hence, the correct answer is ABBBA. 17.1. Discreet (A) / discrete (B) followers and servants, help much to reputation. 2. She finds it necessary and has sometimes felt it expedient (A) / expeditious (B) to excuse her husband for lacking in sense. 3. The professors remark that the questions were eminently (A) / imminently (B) solvable left the students mocking at him. 4. It is the Prime Ministers prerogative to elect (A) / select (B) members of the cabinet.

17. Discreet (adj) wise, cautious and not saying anything which might cause trouble and is the right word in this context. Discrete (adj) means constituting a separate entity. Expedient means based on or marked by a concern for self-interest rather than principle; expeditious means fast and is the inappropriate word here. Eminently means very and is the appropriate word contextually; imminently means ready to take place.Elect through ballot and select is by choice. Select is the correct word here as the Prime Minister selects members of the cabinet. Hence, the correct answer is AAAB. 18. The (A) adoptive/adopted (B) parents (A) preceded/proceeded (B) to file their application to adopt another child. They had (A) born/borne (B) the taunts of their relatives for a long time before they had come to the decision to go for adoption. Even then, this (A) alternate/alternative (B) was seen by the society as an act of (A) bravado/bravery (B) rather than a natural desire to bring up an individual. The parents have not been adopted. Instead they are adopting children so they are adoptive. If something precedes x, it comes before x. Here, the word is proceed which is "to continue or advance". Born mean "brought forth by birth" while borne means, "to hold up; support as well as to bring forth (young); give birth to". It is not possible to give birth to taunts so borne is a better fit than born. Alternative has to do more with "choice" and alternate has more to do with "succession". Alternate would be to "take turns" whereas alternative would be "the other choice". Thus, alternative is our word here.In the paragraph, the society does not seem to appreciate the couples adoption. Hence, they do not think it as an act of bravery but more as an act of bravado which means "boldness or audacity". Hence, the correct answer is ABBBA. 19. She always felt that she was (A) inflicted/afflicted (B) By some malady or the other. She would often (A) elude/allude (B) to her so-called insufferable imagined illnesses to her visitors. She was such a good storyteller that her visitors were horrified listening to her endless (A) forebodings/forbidding (B) about future health concerns. She also had (A) excess/access (B) to all kinds of medicine information that she would want to discuss with her doctor daily. 19.To inflict a blow indicates that someone (doer) has "caused or meted out a blow". One is afflicted (troubled, make distressed or upset) "by maladies or illnesses". Allude is "to refer indirectly to something". To elude is "to escape or avoid". The lady used to allude or refer to her imagined illnesses. Unsufferable is used for persons or their behaviour (which is intolerable) and not for illnesses. Insufferable is the right word here, as it means "difficult or impossible to endure, intolerable". The fourth word is forebodings (future misfortunes) as the sentence ends with about future health concerns. To forbid is "to command someone not to do something". Excess is "more" whereas access, our last word here, is "right to use of (information)". Hence, the correct answer is BBAB.

20. One good thing about his jokes was that they were not (A) backwards/backward (B). They were spontaneous and witty (A) antidotes/anecdotes (B) superbly created from real-life incidents. Whether you were (A) aggravated/annoyed (B) or feeling (A) bad/badly (B) about something, his jokes could blow away your gloom. How he could so easily (A) elicit/illicit (B) laughter from people still remains a mystery for me. 20. Backward here relates to conservative or orthodox or more correctly "not progressive".Therefore, it is our first word for this paragraph. Backwards means "towards the back" or in a reverse order. Antidotes are "cures or remedies" and the word does not apply here. Anecdotes are "witty tales or stories". His anecdotes could blow away peoples gloom if they were annoyed or feeling bad about something. Aggravate is "to make worse" and is not suitable for this sentence. One feels bad about someone behaving badly. Therefore, bad is our fourth word. Elicit is "to draw out" (laughter in this case). Illicit is "illegal". Hence, the correct answer is BBBAA.