DCPD_VERBAL ABILITY_SEMESTER 5_SOLUTIONS

ANSWER KEY_ADJECTIVES

EXERCISE 1
1. To
Explanation: The following are used as comparative adjectives & are followed by ‘to’ & not ‘than’:
Superior, senior, junior, inferior, prior, anterior, posterior, prefer, etc.
2. Utter
Explanation: Some words which are used only in the positive & cannot be used in the comparative,
or in the superlative. They take neither ‘than’ or ‘to’ after them.
EXAMPLES: Interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor, former, later, older, hinder, upper, inner, outer,
utter.
 This cloth is more inferior than that. (wrong)
 This cloth is inferior to that. (right)
3. Than
Explanation: when two things are compared for some similar quality or skill, use ‘than’
4. Of
Explanation: when some selection is meant, use ‘of’ & ‘the’ instead of ‘than’
5. Some
Explanation: ‘some’ & ‘any’ means indefinite number or quantity , where ‘some’ has a positive
meaning, used in affirmative sentences.
6. Any
Explanation: some’ & ‘any’ means indefinite number or quantity , ‘any’ means hardly and it is always
used in negative sentences.
7. Some
Explanation: In interrogative or questionable sentences some is used when the answer expected is
‘yes’ and when it’s a kind of request.
8. Any
Explanation: In interrogative or questionable sentences ‘any’ is used when there is some wonder or
doubt.
9. All
Explanation: As per rule, ‘the’ is used after ‘all’ and ‘both’.
Example: All the students were present
10. Whole
Explanation: As per rule, ‘the’ is used before ‘whole’

ANSWER KEY_ADVERBS

EXERCISE 2
1. b
Explanation:‘ Neatly & Carefully’ in place of ‘neat & careful’ because these are modifying the verb
‘working’.
2. a
Explanation:‘ Carefully’ in place of ‘careful’. ‘Careful’ is used to show how sparrow ‘knits’ the
straws. ‘Knits’ is a verb that is why the adverb should be carefully.

3. c
Explanation: Delete ‘not’. ‘Yes’ and ‘no’ are adverbs. ‘Forbade us to use’ is the correct expression.
‘Forbade’ itself means to order not to do something. So there is no need to add ‘not’.
4. b
 Explanation: Either ‘I could hardly believe’ or ‘I couldn’t believe’. ‘Hardly’ cannot come with
another negative word. It itself is negative.
5. a
Explanation: ‘Really’ in place of ‘real’. ‘Really’ is describing ‘important thing’, where ‘thing’
is a noun and important is an adjective hence the word before an adjective should be an adverb.
6. e
Explanation: No error. Adverb ‘efficiently’ is in its proper form.
7. b
Explanation: ‘Quickly’ in place of ‘quicker’. AN adverb doesn’t change its form even when it is used
as a comparative degree. ’Quickly’ is modifying the verb ‘returned hence an adverb should be
placed.
8. d
Explanation: Say ‘neither’ for ‘not both’.
9. d
Explanation: Say ‘than’ for ‘except’. ‘Than’ is used with ‘no sooner’ ‘no other way’.
10. a
Explanation: ‘Hard’ in place of ‘hardly’. ‘Hard is both an adjective and an adverb used in affirmative
sense and hardly’ is an adverb used in negative sense. Here it is modifying the verb ‘toiling’ and the
meaning is positive so ‘hard’ should be placed.

ANSWER KEY_PREPOSITION
EXERCISE 1
1. At
Explanations: It is used to show the ability, to indicate an activity
2. Against
Explanation: It is used to When you do something against somebody or something, you oppose them
or it.
3. Of
Explanation: used to show something. In the sentence it is showing what she is afraid of.
4. Like
5. To
Explanation: Some verbs, adjectives and nouns are followed by preposition. Most of these
expressions are idiomatic. like according to, affectionate to, Looking Forward to
6. Of
Explanation: It answers the question what is she dreaming of.
7. For
Explanation: It is used to show manner.
8. To
Explanation: Some verbs, adjectives and nouns are followed by preposition. Most of these expressions
are idiomatic. like according to, affectionate to, alternative to etc
9. On
10. Of
Explanation: of in this sentence is used to show the purpose.

EXERCISE 2
1. Upon
Explanation: To look down upon is defined as to consider someone or something lesser or inferior in
some way. Hence upon fits best here. They are some Prepositions used after Certain Verbs.
2. For
Explanation: you can't use the preposition for , if you are inviting someone to the specific action, like the
party. In this case, I would use "I have invited/I invited you to a party". But for example, if "just" you want
to drink/eat with someone, "you're inviting him for a drink/lunch".

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 3. By
Explanation: Preposition by is used to indicate method or manner. Thus it suits best in this blank.
4. In
Explanation: It is used to show a specific area, place. ‘In’ being preposition of place is used for big places
or cities whereas ‘at’ is used for small places.
5. On
Explanation: Insisted on is a phrasal verb that means be resolute or firm in a demand or course.
Moreover certain words and expressions are followed by particular prepositions. e.g. Interested In,
Lacking In, Kind to etc.
ANSWER KEY_CONJUNCTIONS
EXERCISE 1
1. Either, or (either, or is used when two choices are to be considered and one among them is to be
finalized)
2. Both and (it is used when two choices are being talked about and both are to be finalized)
3. Not only, but also (it is used when two choices are being talked about and both are to be finalized)
4. Both, and (it is used when two choices are being talked about and both are to be finalized)
5. Not only, but also (it is used when two choices are being talked about and both are to be finalized)
6. As, as (it is used when comparison among the two things are being made and they are declared alike
regarding some particular feature)
7. As, as (it is used when comparison among the two things are being made and they are declared alike
regarding some particular feature)
8. Whether, or (it is used when comparison among two opposite situations is being made)
9. Neither, Nor
10. As, as (it is used when comparison among the two things are being made and they are declared
alike regarding some particular feature)

EXERCISE 2
1. (C) I like chicken but not fish. The sentence here is drawing a contrast. But is the correct coordinating
conjunction to join these two nouns.
2. (D) If it rains on Sunday, I will not be able to drive. The subordinating conjunction should be used to
introduce the dependent clause “rains on Sunday.” The rain is a conditional situation that will cause the
lack of ability to drive.
3. (C) I like both dogs and cats. Both is a correlative conjunction and must be accompanied by “and.”
4. (B) The items are on sale in the local store but not online. Again, a contrast is being drawn here (just as
in question #1) so the coordinating conjunction “but” is appropriate to explain the relationship between
the nouns.
5. (D) Neither my mother nor my father will be able to attend the party on Sunday. Nor is a correlative
conjunction with neither.
6. (D) Neither my mother nor my father will be able to attend the party on Sunday. Nor is a correlative
conjunction with neither.
7. (B) Luke was late to the party because his car broke down on the highway. The tardiness was caused
by the breakdown of the car. The subordinating conjunction must be used to explain the relationship
between the clauses
ANSWER EXPLANATIONS-READING COMPREHENSION

EXERCISE 1
Passage 1:
1. B. Explanation:
Choice A is the opposite of what happens.
Choice C is what a person should try to do when memorizing something.
Choice D is not mentioned.
The correct answer is B. This is a factual question.

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2. The correct answer is A. This is a vocabulary question. Elapse means to pass.

3. D, Explanation:
Choice A is mentioned in the first paragraph.
Choice B is mentioned in the second paragraph.
Choice C is mentioned in the first paragraph.
The correct answer is D. This is a negative factual question.

4. B, Explanation:
Choice A is incorrect because it is not the "reason" the author mentions it.
Choice C is not mentioned.
Choice D distracts you because both are mentioned as examples.
The correct answer is B. This is an author purpose question.

5. A, Explanation:
Choice B is what regular people think is true.
Choice C is not mentioned.
Choice D is a type of cue for retrieval.
The correct answer is A. This is a factual question.

6. C, Explanation:
Choice A is contradicted by "not an efficient way".
Choice B is incorrect because these two terms are not compared.
Choice D is illogical.
The correct answer is C. This is a factual question.

7. The correct answer is D. This is a reference question.

8. The correct answer is A. This is a vocabulary question. elaborate means detailed

9. D, Explanation:
Choice A is mentioned in paragraph one.
Choice B is mentioned in paragraph three (though an interruption will destroy it).
Choice C is mentioned in the last paragraph.
The correct answer is D. This is a negative factual question.

10. The correct answer is B. This is a vocabulary question. Cues means hint or clues.

ANSWER EXPLANATIONS- PARA JUMBLES

EXERCISE 1

1. B, Statement 2 is introducing the concept as recession and stating the condition of India with regard to
the recession being referred to as epidemic in statement 6. On the contrast note in statement 5, India
is being seen as a nation which can recover from this state of recession of which SEBI and SBI rules have
been brought to notice in statement 3.In statement 1, it has been mentioned that if it was not for these
rules, Indian banks would have been helpless which could have further led to massive losses on a wider
scale.
2. A, Here the paragraph starts from a random condition in statement 3 that talks about our spending half
of the waking hours at work which could result in development of tension and anxiety affecting our

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 health in statement 1.In statement 5, the word problems has been used for of “tension and anxiety” so
both the statements “a” and “e” make a pair. In statement 2, a general fact has been stated that one
cannot change the world of work. However one can definitely change the way one feels and deals with
several situations in statement 6. The only statement left with the conclusion is statement 4 with a key
word “therefore”.
3. B, First off, the introduction of acronym RTGS in statement 4 marks the beginning of the paragraph.
After that in statement 2 and 6, brief introduction of the mechanism has been provided, so they make a
decent pair. In statement 1, the prospect of settlement in real time has been described and in
statement 5 while shows the continuity with gross settlement, Statement 3 defines the conclusion of
the paragraph.
4. C, The paragraph commences with introduction of patience as a virtue in statement 3 which is being
paraphrased /reiterated in statement 2.Statement 5 stresses on the above mentioned statement with
referring to it as “fact”. On the contrary practicing the same is a huge task as has been mentioned in
statement 6. Thus statements 5 and 6 make a pair. Statement 1 is inherently attached to statement 6
whereas statement 4 is serving as a conclusion.
5. A, The paragraph opens with a situation that has been described in statement 4 which gets linked to
statement 2 defining the topic of discussion. Based on keyword approach, statements 2 and 6 make a
fair pair. Statements 1, 5 and 3 follow in order respectively.
6. D, Statement 2 describes a normal practice “Every Monday…..” and statement 5 quotes a specific case
“One day…” Hence the order is B-E. That eliminates options 1 and 2. There is no logical link between
statements 2 and 4, so D cannot come immediately after B, which eliminates option 3.
7. D, The “it” in E correctly refers to “the maxim” in statement 1. No other statement links logically well
with statement 1. Furthermore, D refers to the time, effort mentioned in C. So CD is a set. This set is
also given in option 4.
8. A, Statement B talks about “life would not have persisted ….” And statement 1 takes it up with “life is a
perpetual triumph over the grave “. Hence the order has to be B-A. This eliminates options 2 and 3, D
then talks about the law and C concludes saying the law is approved by all. There is no logical link
between B and D, hence option 4 is eliminated, 1 is the correct option.
9. A, Statement 3 talks about the report and the three media being discussed in the paragraph. Sentence
1 follows next with a direct reference to “these three media” mentioned in C. So CA is a sequence. This
eliminates options 2 and 3. D offers an example of “projection of women” and hence can’t sneak in
between C and A, which eliminates option 4. D also discusses the same three media hence it will follow
statement 1. The CAD sequence is in option 1.
10. A, Statement 2 is a clear conclusion – “It seems likely, therefore ….” This eliminates option 3. Statement
3 details out the experiment hinted at in A, so it has to be A-C, which eliminates options 2 and 4.
Sentence 2 is obviously the conclusive sentence as it uses the words “it seems likely”. So either option 1
or option 5 may be correct. C tells us about the experiment done. D gives us the result of the
experiment. So CD is a set. In options 1 & 5 CD is given as a set and B is given as the conclusion. What
about the introduction? A tells us what was examined. So it gives an introduction to the paragraph. So
option 1 is correct.