BULLET

English Usage 01
Interactive Vocabulary –1

Number of questions: 100

Directions for questions 1 to 5: Select the word 9. Sceptic

that is closest in meaning to the given word. (a) believer (b) dissenter
(c) atheist (d) aseptic
1. Foster
(a) protest (b) request 10. Superfluous
(c) promote (d) replace (a) redundant (b) pleonastic
(c) indispensable (d) unabated
2. Recapitulate
(a) refrain (b) reiterate Directions for questions 11 to 15: Identify the
(c) surrender (d) remind meaning of the following words.

3. Levity 11. Idiosyncrasy is:

(a) clarity (b) lightness (a) the ideology of a political party or
(c) parity (d) familiarity organization
(b) a peculiar habit or characteristic of an
4. Indefatigable individual or group
(a) tired (b) skillful (c) a synchronous movement between two
(c) well-paid (d) tireless mechanical parts
(d) a characteristic of selfish people
5. Vacillate
(a) avoid (b) stay 12. An ombudsman is:
(c) stabalize (d) fluctuate (a) an official whose job is to examine and
report on complaints made by ordinary
Directions for questions 6 to 10: Select the word people about companies, government or
that is opposite in meaning to the given word. public authorities
(b) a person with unrivaled powers inside the
6. Opportunist government
(a) ambitious (b) aspiring (c) the head of any organization who is elected
(c) appropriate (d) artless by a majority voting system
(d) a person who is granted political asylum
7. Vituperate in a country that is facing civil war
(a) laud (b) berate
(c) saturate (d) sue 13. A bipartisan act:
(a) must be approved by popular referendum
8. Scanty (b) is supported by both sides
(a) scarce (b) meager (c) aims to reduce corruption inside the
(c) sparse (d) plentiful government
(d) can have only two decrees

EU - 1 CEX–8915/17 / Page 1
14. In a meritocracy: Directions for questions 21 to 30: In the given
(a) the advancement of individuals is based questions, one word in every sentence has been
on their performance underlined. Select the option that best describes
(b) there is a strict hierarchy of powers the meaning of the underlined word in the given
(c) the head of the government is elected by context.
the population
(d) the senate is responsible for the approval 21. What I can construe from the opposition’s
of federal laws remarks is that they are bent upon defaming
us.
15. Rhetoric is: (a) fabricate (b) misinterpret
(a) the ability to lie without revealing it with (c) manipulate (d) interpret
body language
(b) a technique used to speak faster 22. Many human beings live with the illusion that
(c) the skill of using language persuasively their problems are insurmountable, and
(d) the ability to interpret complex logical continue to blame their destiny.
problems (a) fact (b) image
(c) clarity (d) deadlock
Directions for questions 16 to 20: Read the
following sentences/phrases carefully and answer 23. The judge upbraided the accused for insulting
the questions that follow. the court.
(a) reproached (b) punished
16. Someone with excessive concern for formal (c) forgave (d) tolerated
rules is:
(a) moribund (b) zealous 24. I chose the party, ostensibly thrown in his
(c) pedantic (d) rustic honour, as the perfect setting for his murder.
(a) completely (b) obviously
17. If something is in oblivion: (c) stiffly (d) apparently
(a) time has severely ruined its forms
(b) it has been confiscated by a governmental 25. The professor was famous for his discursive
body lectures.
(c) people have completely forgotten about it (a) succinct (b) laconic
(d) it can no longer be commercially traded (c) boring (d) rambling
between two or more countries
26. I don’t know who elected him; he always
18. Mary was always able to recover quickly from embarrasses me with his gauche behaviour.
misfortunes. She was very: (a) unpolished (b) tactful
(a) witty (b) brave (c) modest (d) suave
(c) resilient (d) zany
27. The audience fled the hall as his crass
19. If something is implied by actions or cacophony began to sound over the speakers.
statements, it is: (a) jarring sound (b) music
(a) frugal (b) tactic (c) melody (d) voice
(c) tangible (d) tacit
28. The philosophy that espouses the dignity,
20. They had mixed feelings about it; hence their equality and freedom of human beings, is truly
comments were: a world religion.
(a) agnostic (b) ambivalent (a) embraces (b) adjudges
(c) deliberate (d) antiquated (c) withstands (d) fudges

CEX–8915/17 / Page 2 EU - 1
29. Gandhi’s death was tantamount to losing his 37. His diary is filled with a young man’s
spiritual pillar. ebullience.
(a) equivalent (b) awkward (a) effervescence (b) effusiveness
(c) discreet (d) unpretentious (c) exuberance (d) apathy

30. The ceasefire brought about a semblance of 38. His attempt to impugn the decision failed
peace. miserably.
(a) outward and often specious appearance (a) contravene (b) adjure
(b) quality (c) belie (d) disaffirm
(c) token
(d) magnitude 39. The court ruled that the punishment was
arbitrary and capricious.
Directions for questions 31 to 40: In the given (a) ambitious (b) aspiring
questions, one word in every sentence has been (c) reasonable (d) constant
underlined. Select the option that, in the given
context, is opposite in meaning to the underlined 40. His paintings have had a profound effect on
word. her own work.
(a) arcane (b) deep
31. Ravi firmly believes that religion is a benignant (c) esoteric (d) superficial
force in society.
(a) altruistic (b) malignant Directions for question 41 to 50: In the following
(c) propitious (d) humanitarian questions, a set of four words is given. Three of the
words are related in some way, the remaining word
32. He can be very obstinate when he wants to is not related to the rest. You have to pick the word
be! which does not fit in the relation and mark that as
(a) sombre (b) deceitful your answer.
(c) conciliatory (d) emotional
41. (a) Couple (b) Sever
33. I’m using the word ‘academic’ here in a (c) Rend (d) Lacerate
pejorative sense.
(a) disparaging (b) irreverent 42. (a) Restrain (b) Ruffle
(c) complimentary(d) slighting (c) Bridle (d) Control

34. He became garrulous after a few glasses of 43. (a) Brink (b) Hub
wine. (c) Verge (d) Brim
(a) empirical (b) stupid
(c) apparent (d) reticent 44. (a) Eulogy (b) Panegyric
(c) Ignominy (d) Glorification
35. The gossamer veil seemed to float about the 45. (a) Taciturn (b) Reserved
bride as she walked down the aisle. (c) Clamorous (d) Silent
(a) inflated (b) bombastic
(c) sturdy (d) tumescent 46. (a) Sporadic (b) Constant
(c) Intermittent (d) Variable
36. He plotted a nefarious scheme to cheat
people out of their money. 47. (a) Impetuosity (b) Equanimity
(a) righteous (b) execrable (c) Zealousness (d) Effervescence
(c) detestable (d) abominable

EU - 1 CEX–8915/17 / Page 3
48. (a) Drip (b) Intrusion 60. Brick : Construction : : Words : ?
(c) Percolation (d) Effluence (a) Mouth (b) Chortle
(c) Articulation (d) Whet
49. (a) Duplicity (b) Guilelessness
(c) Artfulness (d) Shrewdness Directions for questions 61 to 70: Choose the
lettered pair that best expresses a relationship similar
50. (a) Break (b) Hiatus to that expressed in the original pair.
(c) Chasm (d) Bridge
61. Chuckle : Guffaw : :
Directions for questions 51 to 60: Choose the word (a) Whimper : Impatience
that best expresses a relationship similar to that (b) Cry : Bawl
expressed in the original pair. (c) Frown : Indifference
(d) Sneer : Detachment
51. Wheat : Cereal : : Gram : ?
(a) Pulse (b) Fruit 62. Soliloquy : : Discussion : :
(c) Weight (d) Lemon (a) Mob : Crowd
(b) Single : Group
52. Vague : Indistinct : : Pedantic : ? (c) Emotion : Thought
(a) Ugly (b) Compliment (d) Hamlet : Antonio
(c) Unimaginative (d) Abrupt
63. Scales : Justice : :
53. Adroit : Dexterous : : Naïve : ? (a) Weights : Measures
(a) Artless (b) Clumsy (b) Laws : Courts
(c) Transparent (d) Serene (c) Torch : Liberty
(d) Balance : Equity
54. Didactic : Teach : : Satiric : ?
(a) Learn (b) Mock 64. Auger : Carpenter : :
(c) Complain (d) Rule (a) Convene : Committee
(b) Awl : Cobbler
55. Fall : Pain : : Disobedience : ? (c) Cheer : Team
(a) Persuasion (b) Punishment (d) Demobilize : Troops
(c) Defiance (d) Submission
65. Salutation : Start : :
56. Gullible : Duped : : Malleable : ? (a) Caption : subject
(a) Cheated (b) Cautioned (b) Agency : Courier
(c) Moulded (d) Misled (c) Receiver : Address
(d) Compliment : Close
57. Morose : Sullen : : Extemporaneous: ?
(a) Elusive (b) Modern 66. Philatelist : Stamps : :
(c) Ecstatic (d) Impromptu (a) Numismatist : Coins
(b) Cashier : Currency
58. Scene : Play : : Paragraph : ? (c) Barber : Hair
(a) Eulogy (b) Essay (d) Gardener : Plants
(c) Experiment (d) Verse
67. Gun : Holster : :
59. Fission : Fusion : : Intrusion : ? (a) Handkerchief : Hand
(a) Explosion (b) Combination (b) Socks : Shoes
(c) Extrusion (d) Entry (c) Money : Mint
(d) Arrows : Quiver

CEX–8915/17 / Page 4 EU - 1
68. Flock : Sheep : : 75. He did his duty by church, town and clients
(a) Pencil : Box with unfailing __________.
(b) Book : Register (a) rectitude (b) carelessness
(c) Bevy : Quail (d) hurdles (d) solitude
(d) Guns : Missiles
76. There’s something slightly peculiar about
69. Hacker : Computer : :
the___________ of tradition and protocol with
(a) Virus : File
(b) Plagiarist : Writing the modern dress-down, 21st century world.
(c) Short Circuit : Building (a) juxtaposition (b) position
(d) Disease : Body (d) feasting (d) chagrin

70. Dulcet : Raucous 77. The doctor had said plainly and without
(a) Sweet : Song _____________ what the malady was.
(b) Crazy : insane (a) tact (b) subterfuge
(c) Palliative : Exacerbating (c) directness (d) frankness
(d) Theory : Practical
78. He was not by nature a ___________ or an
Directions for questions 71 to 82: Each sentence
ascetic.
below has a blank, each blank indicating that
(a) socialite (b) recluse
something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence
are four words. Choose the word for each blank that (c) gourmet (d) charmer
best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
79. The table at which she was sitting was half
71. He declined to behave in a social manner, ____________ by a great hanging mass of
and ______________ Bellbury by refusing, coral-colored bougainvillea.
usually impolitely, their many invitations. (a) obliterated (b) covered
(a) pleased (b) delighted (c) revealed (d) shown
(c) strained (d) affronted
80. I don’t ________ and grieve over the past.
72. Charles, grinding his teeth and snorting with (a) hanker (b) forget
venom, was penning a really __________
(c) oblige (d) discard
review for a learned journal of a fellow
historian’s life work.
(a) vitriolic (b) polite 81. Behind the normal __________ of daily life
(c) prudent (d) just had been a dread of something that he himself
did not understand.
73. Mrs. Rouse gave a ___________ knock on (a) façade (b) face
the door and pushed it open. (c) schedule (d) routine
(a) mandatory (b) persistent
(c) imprecise (d) perfunctory 82. This was a different man altogether. A younger
man, __________, eager, unsure of himself,
74. Somebody must have sent him this cutting desperately anxious to please.
sometime, probably with no __________ (a) mature (b) experienced
intention.
(c) callow (d) confident
(a) nefarious (b) furious
(c) causal (d) partial

EU - 1 CEX–8915/17 / Page 5
Directions for question 83 to 90: There are two
gaps in the sentences given below. From the pairs
of words given, select the one that fills the gaps
most appropriately.
83. Laura remained under the care of Nannie, with
daily visits from Miss Weekes, an
___________ but ____________ governess.
(a) amiable … inspiring
(b) amiable … uninspiring
(c) irritating … uninspiring
(d) avuncular … uninspiring
84. Studies show that outbursts ___________
and perpetuate anger, like a _________
blowing on fire.
(a) reduce … bellows
(b) augment … blows
(c) augment … bellows
(d) stretch … bellows
85. By combining the worlds of art and work, the
Stradivarius is a ___________ masterpiece
of art and a tool for the __________ art of
making music.
(a) mundane … sublime
(b) unique … sublime
(c) two-piece … supreme
(d) unique … shallow
86. The ___________ have done everything
possible to deceive the __________.
(a) unscrupulous … clever
(b) honest dealers … gullible
(c) unscrupulous … gullible
(d) scrupulous … gullible
87. Judiciary is certainly one among the three
branches of governance ______ by the
Constitution, but this should not be ________
as conferring the freedom to intermingle at
one’s discretion.
(a) promulgated, taken
(b) appointed, meant
(c) defined, adapted
(d) envisaged, construed
CEX–8915/17 / Page 6
88. Competitors quickly tried to ______ another
_______ of iPhone hype.
(a) evaporate, impetus
(b) eliminate, round
(c) develop, excuse
(d) douse, conflagration
89. This has allowed India’s most successful
companies to prosper despite the ______
labor regulations which protect a minority of
job holders at the expense of ______ of
jobseekers.
(a) excellent, scores
(b) tedious, patrons
(c) onerous, legions
(d) weary, microcosm
90. Although their initial anger had _____
somewhat, they continued to _____ the
careless worker who had broken the machine.
(a) blazed, assail
(b) diminished, appease
(c) abated, berate
(d) subsided, condone
Directions for questions 91 to 100: In each of the
following questions, five sentences are given. Each
sentence has a pair of words given in bold. From
this pair of words, select the most appropriate word
(A and B) to form correct sentences. The sentences
are followed by options that indicate the words, which
may be selected to complete the set of sentences.
From the given options, choose the most appropriate
one.
91. (i) The Ministers of the Cabinet held the
meeting in the (A) capitol/ (B) capital of
the State Legislature.
(ii) You should try to put a (A) bridle / (B)
bridal on your unduly expenses.
(iii) The travelers had to (A) break / (B) brake
suddenly when the truck took the wrong
turn.
(iv) Her career took a remarkable (A) ascent
/ (B) assent after the publication of her
debut novel.
EU - 1
 (v) The obstinate ministers decided to (A)
annual / (B) annul the decisions of the
king of the colossal empire because of
his feeble condition and terminating
disease.
(a) BABAB (b) AABAB
(c) AAAAB (d) AABBB
92. (i) The (A) economic / (B) economical
downturn during recession causes a sharp
decline in the consumption and
investment trends of consumers.
(ii) The wild (A) grisly / (B) grizzly bear
caused utter mayhem in the village.
(iii) With the affectionate lilt in her voice, she
said, “(A) It’s / (B) Its a great pleasure to
have you here”.
(iv) His (A) discrete / (B) discreet analysis
of the situation helped to save himself from
the irredeemable loss.
(v) Though the emperor was aware of the (A)
eminent / (B) imminent danger, he
fought back with absolute valour of a
knight to save his people.
(a) BABBB (b) ABAAA
(c) ABABB (d) ABBAA
93. (i) The (A) continual / (B) continuous metro
departures were a great convenience to
the people coming from distant areas of
the city.
(ii) The tourists liked strolling through the (A)
pier / (B) peer in the pleasant evening.
(iii) Who is responsible for the despicable
condition of such impoverished children?
Will somebody (A) mete / (B) meet out
justice for the right of adequate livelihood
to them?
(iv) The (A) elicit / (B) illicit act of the
delinquent ruined his entire childhood.
(v) The (A) liable / (B) libel published in the
today’s newspaper was followed by the
legal action taken by the chairman of the
organization against the newspaper.
(a) BAABA (b) AABAA
(c) BABBB (d) AAABB
EU - 1
94. (i) She was a maverick and unruly kid who
shunned the (A) practise / (B) practice
of wearing ‘burka’ in public unlike her other
siblings.
(ii) The students sneaked out of the school
(A) premise / (B) premises to go for the
movie during school hours.
(iii) In a fit of (A) pique / (B) peek, he slapped
the other person and warned him in a
belligerent tone.
(iv) As he suffered from motion sickness, he
(A) retched / (B) wretched the food he
had before the journey at regular intervals.
(v) The cyclone (A) razed / (B) raised the
dwellings and the made millions of the
inhabitants homeless.
(a) BBAAA (b) ABBAB
(c) ABBAA (d) ABAAA
95. (i) Using the wedding (A) stationery / (B)
stationary software you can very easily
design a wedding invitation card of your
choice on the internet.
(ii) The leper prince of the kingdom suffered
in the (A) throes / (B) throws of his
physical and mental illness.
(iii) The (A) shear / (B) sheer rivalry between
the two families caused the children to
develop the same animosity as their
parents.
(iv) It was the cardinal (A) tenet / (B) tenant
of their functioning to involve the ideas of
every member of the team.
(v) That is the (A) stature / (B) statute book;
how can they go against it and do such a
reprehensible act.
(a) BAABA (b) AABAB
(c) AAAAB (d) AABAA
CEX–8915/17 / Page 7
96. (i) Nobody in the team liked the (A) boor /
(B) bore yokel from the countryside.
(ii) (A) Beside / (B) Besides the regular
students, the alumni were also invited to
the annual meet.
(iii) The years of mismanaged administration
and false promises made the citizens stoic
and (A)uninterested / (B) disinterested
towards their leader.
(iv) Her (A) childlike / (B) childish charm
was a major fascination for her admirers.
(v) The (A) contemptuous / (B)
contemptible political leader was
charged with anti-Muslim hate speech in
campaign fracas.
(a) BAABA (b) AABAB
(c) ABAAA (d) AABAA
97. (i) By the end of the session, the (A) demur
/ (B) demure, reticent kid transformed to
an outgoing and gregarious personality.
(ii) Neil Armstrong’s (A) creditable / (B)
credible achievement of landing on moon
has made history.
(iii) The nationalized banks follow a very
stringent (A) criteria / (B) criterion for
the grant of education loan.
(iv) My (A) conscience / (B) conscious did
not allow me to take such an unjustifiable
decisions against my people.
(v) The (A) expeditious / (B) expedient
response of the students to the
misdemeanour of the professor caused a
rage in the college.
(a) BABAA (b) BABAB
(c) AAAAB (d) AABAA
98. (i) Subscription in fitness centres is just like
a (A) vague / (B) vogue these days.
(ii) The (A) tortuous / (B) torturous road to
their destination seemed never-ending to
the travellers.
(iii) The (A) risqué / (B) risk narration of the
tale was not welcomed by his friends.
(iv) “Beware of that (A) rogue / (B) rouge;
he will dupe you in the most misleading
© LST 2016 Replication or other unauthorised use of this material is prohibited by the copyright laws of India
CEX–8915/17 / Page 8
ways and you not even get the slightest
hint of it.”
(v) The toy shop had variety of toys, (A)
especially / (B) specially for kids under
three years of age.
(a) BAABA (b) BAAAA
(c) AAAAB (d) AABAA
99. (i) The (A) climactic / (B) climatic changes
in the recent past and the near future is
one of the major repercussions of global
warming.
(ii) He was devastated when he was betrayed
by his only friend and (A) confidant / (B)
confident.
(iii) His (A) foreboding / (B) forbidding
premonition caused him many a sleepless
nights.
(iv) The famous psychologist (A) floundered
/ (B) foundered for a long time to get the
recommendation for his atypical
psychological theories and therapies.
(v) B. C. Forbes said, “Work is the meat of
life, pleasure the (A) desert / (B) dessert.”
(a) BAABA (b) BAAAB
(c) AAAAB (d) AABAA
100. (i) The entire clan (A) emigrated / (B)
immigrated to the Middle East after the
bitter rows and recriminations with the
opposite clan.
(ii) His (A) illusion / (B) allusion to Freud’s
work on psychoanalysis was to express
his disregard to Freud’s dream theories.
(iii) The dreadful (A) wail / (B) wale of misery
could only be felt at the scene of ruthless
carnage.
(iv) There are notable differences in the main
(A) principals / (B) principles of two
different sects of the same religion.
(v) Beautifully rising from the ground, the (A)
stalagmites / (B) stalactites looked like
a natural piece of art.
(a) BAABA (b) AABAB
(c) ABABA (d) AABAA
EU - 1