Vijeta Magazine by Nimisha Mam 15 DECEMBER 2022 Final

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Preface
Dear students,
English Language plays a very significant role in banking and other
competitive exams. This section is also a major deciding factor in your
success in every leg of your examination. The English section can be
tremendously scoring if one handles this section with all his dedication,
attention and care.
One of the key factors in attaining success in any field is the age old
concept of “practice makes a man perfect.” Although some people might
have an innate knack for a particular subject or skill, the truth is mastery
takes time, repetition and pushing oneself out of his/her comfort zone –
there is no shortcut!
Now, in the case of major banking and insurance exams, adequate and
appropriate practice materials aren't easily available. The contents you'll
rely on for the sake of practising must be exam-specific and relevant. So,
I've come up with ''Vijeta''(that translates to 'success finder') - a free-to-all
biweekly magazine for the English language that targets all the major
banking and insurance exams throughout the country.
Every question in this magazine has been framed with utmost care and
attention keeping in mind that millions of you will be highly benefitted.
All the different patterns of questions from this section that appear in the
exams have been furnished in a very organized manner.
You'll only need to carry on practising consistently, as steady and

consistent practice yields steady and consistent results.
Your invaluable suggestions are heartily welcome, as we believe in

relentless improvement.

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ABOUT NIMISHA BANSAL
Nimisha Bansal is one of India's most eminent educators of English

language for Banking, Insurance and other government
examinations with over 300k followers on Unacademy. Her motto is to
make English an easy and accessible language for everyone. She also
has a very popular YouTube channel named 'Nimisha Bansal' with a
subscription base of more than half-a-million.
She is not only a highly-competent pedagog, but also a wonderful

motivator. She always promotes enthusiasm for giving your best.
She is also a prominent author of some very successful books for
the English language for various competitive exams. Some of her
top-selling books are Vocab Prodigy, 120 Rules of Grammar,
Descriptive Book and Perfection Book.
These books have been highly praised and are immensely beneficial
for the aspirants.
Thousands of students from her batches like Perfection Batch,
Achievers' series and Editorial Analysis have been selected in
various exams like SBI PO and Clerk, IBPS/RRB PO and Clerk and
RBI Assistant.
Nimisha Bansal also carries out many free classes on a regular
basis.
She has dedicated her life to the field of education and has coached lakhs
of students countrywide. She takes free classes regularly on both
Unacademy and her YouTube channel and has garnered millions of
views on her videos. With a willing heart to provide the best education to
her students, Nimisha Bansal has proudly helped thousands of students
achieve their dream jobs every year. Many of her students are currently
working in various public sector banks and government organizations.

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She believes education should not be limited to the youth but to anyone
who shares the love of learning.
A Note to my champions
Dear students,
Getting a government job isn't a child's play nowadays. One must go

through a stiff competitive situation, recurrent stresses and lack of
confidence on several occasions. It's not at all 'a bed of roses'.
But success is no accident. It is consistent hard work, perseverance,
learning, studying and sacrifice.
So, how can goals be accomplished?

What are the main qualities you need to inculcate to be successful?
First, you need to keep in mind that there are four most important
mantras for success.
Patience, Perseverance, Practice and Planning.
It is important to be patient and keep going to reach your goals. Once we
learn the importance of patience, we can stop worrying when things take
longer than we would like.
Progress occurs by trying, understanding what works and what does not
work, course-correcting, and trying again.
Success comes to those who continue to make efforts to achieve
something in their lives, which is what perseverance is all about.
Planning can be defined as “thinking in advance what is to be done,
when it is to be done, how it is to be done and by whom it should be
done”. In simple words we can say, planning bridges the gap between
where we are standing today and where we want to reach.

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Second, target every exam as it's the easiest exam. It's not your
overconfidence. It's your self-assurance or confidence. Confidence is
believing in yourself, feeling comfortable in your true self, knowing you
have everything required to succeed.
By this positive mindset, you'll not be overwhelmed by the fear of losing.
Third, enjoy the journey. It's a healthy way to maintain balance between
doing and being, between producing results and going through the
required processes. Don't become too burdened with all your anxieties,
doubts and uncertainties.
There will be stress, doubts, fears but you will have to constantly remind
yourself that you can do it and you will do it.
Fourth, it is so important to realize the magnitude of introspection.
The ability to examine, explore and get intimate with your inner conscious
and feelings allows you to take responsibility for your growth.
By looking into and reviewing your own thoughts and the actions attached
to them, you get to know yourself - your strengths, your weaknesses.
Once you have understood these aspects, you can start working on them.
We are wired to move toward things that make us feel good and away
from things that make us feel uncomfortable. Our brains tag effort as bad
because it’s hard work.
But hard actions can have tremendous benefits — ones that may not be
visible for some time.
We can accomplish hard things by practicing the habits of a growth
mindset.
Challenges and problems are important parts of life that give you
experiences; make you learn and help you become stronger. Problems
make us grow and shape us. The biggest problem people have is that
they hope for a life without problems.

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Therefore, preparing yourself for the hardest challenges will certainly help
you achieve success more efficiently.
Finally, the temptation to give up is a common one, and nobody is

exempt. Failure isn't something many of us can handle gracefully. And
even though we know it's a common human condition, we're somehow
always surprised when it happens to us.
But, when you want to give up, remind yourself that loss of hope is
temporary. It might just compel you to pick yourself up and move forward.
Use failures as your motivations. Failure isn’t the end of a journey, instead
it is just an experience you have while on your way to success.
Wishing you the best for every step in your journey. Go and conquer your
dreams.
I am always there for you, and I know that my champions can never give
up
With love and lots of blessings

Nimisha Bansal

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TOPPER’S TALK
Ishika Saini (SBI PO 2021-2022)
1. Congratulations on your success. I'm very happy for you and I’m
proud of you. What was the reaction of your parents and you when
you saw the result?
ISHIKA SAINI : Thank You so much mam! It was really unexpected, there
were tears of happiness in my eyes. When I saw the result I couldn't
believe it was real. The feeling cannot be expressed. My parents are
really proud of me. I cleared it in the 1st attempt. I had been preparing
since October, 2020 but I joined your perfection batch in May.
2. Tell me more about your goals, strategies and how did you
prepare?
ISHIKA SAINI : I mainly focused on the things I had command on like

English then I tried to clear my mathematics concepts and reasoning.
The biggest factor that helped me were the mocks tests, I improved my
speed of solving questions by giving mock tests.
3. How important and instrumental have Nimisha ma'am's various

batches been in your preparation for the banking exams? How will
you consider her guidance and contributions?

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A: I've been to many English classes on many platforms so far. But the
kind of ambience she creates in her classes has been unmatchable. Her
flagship batch - Perfection Batch has been enormously helpful for me and
thousands like me, who always used to think that English is the hardest
section. When I started attending her classes, I realized that solving only
the easy and simple questions would not yield any positive result. The
level of her questions in the Perfection Batch is so advanced that I
experienced a different dimension of learning. I acquired a great deal of
knowledge. My reading skill was improved to a great extent.
I'm also a regular attendee of her other free classes and editorial analysis
classes. These also have big contributions to my preparation.
Apart from her wonderful teaching ability, her warm gestures and constant
motivation are the things, I'm forever indebted to.
4. Many students ask me about their doubts about the examinations,
like is reading enough for English?
ISHIKA SAINI : I don't think only reading can improve the language, you
have to solve questions to improve the same. Reading editorials does
help but only reading them isn't enough. I really enjoyed attending the
perfection batch and it helped me a lot and improved my weak links.
5. How was your interview? Were you nervous enough to face the
interviewers?
ISHIKA SAINI : I was nervous till I was outside the door waiting for my
turn. As soon as I got inside, I thought the interviewers were also human.
They won’t do anything if I answer wrong, so my nervousness flew away.
My interview was mostly situation based; it wasn't very much about
banking. I remember they asked me about the difference between SBI
and PNB. In which bank do you have your account? Most questions were
from my introduction and hobbies.
6. How did you manage your time? What was your timetable?

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ISHIKA SAINI : My target was to study 7 - 8 hours a day. I used to give

most of my time to English, like 4 -5 hours, as I knew that English was the
most scoring subject. When my reasoning and mathematics concepts got
clear, I was totally dependent upon mock tests. I did not take any extra
classes , I learned the concepts and practised them. My general
awareness was very weak. I used to study it on youtube. I believe that
English is a game changing subject because my marks increased
because of it and descriptive writing.
7. What would you like to say to fellow aspirants?
ISHIKA SAINI : My aim was to clear this exam. So I completed my

graduation and got dedicated to preparing for the exam. Just make a
mindset that this is the easiest exam and I can do it. Just train your mind
and when you will be in the exam hall solving the paper you will feel the
energy. Just stay positive. Don't ever lose hope and work whole-heartedly
towards your goals.

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INDEX
S.No. Chapter Name Page no

1 PHRASE REARRANGEMENT 14- 29
2 PARAJUMBLE 30- 108
3 CONNECTOR 109- 123
4 CLOZE TEST 124- 195
5 IDIOMS 196- 243

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CHAPTER 1 - READING COMPREHENSION

Direction(1-7): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
South Korea has launched its first indigenous rocket Nuri, stepping up the country's
ambitions in space. The Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II, known as Nuri, took off from
Goheung, about 500km (310 miles) south of Seoul. President Moon Jae-in said the vehicle
completed its full flight sequence but failed in its goal of putting a dummy satellite in orbit.
Such launches are essential for a space programme but could potentially also have military
applications. South Korea is locked in an arms race with North Korea, with both recently
test-firing new weapons. The North put a satellite in orbit in 2012.
Nuri cost South Korea an estimated 2 trillion won (£1.23bn or $1.6bn) to develop. Weighing
200 tonnes and measuring 47.2 metres long, it is fitted with six liquid-fuelled engines. In his
comments, President Moon admitted the launch fell short of their goals, but added: "It's not
long before we'll be able to launch it exactly into the target trajectory," Reuters news
agency reported.
South Korea plans to carry out four more launches of the Nuri until 2027 to increase
reliability, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) that is overseeing the
launch. While South Korea is a technological powerhouse, it has lagged behind other
countries in its development for space exploration. Previous attempts by Seoul to launch a
rocket in 2009 and 2010 failed, with the second exploding seconds after take-off.
South Korea is aiming to send a probe to the moon by 2030. While South Korea says it
intends to use Nuri to launch satellites, the test has also been viewed as part of the
country's ongoing ramp-up in weapons development. Ballistic missiles and space rockets
use similar technology.
1. Which of the following statements is/are TRUE according to the above passage?
a. The satellite launch vehicle Nuri was mechanically a complete failure.

b. South Korea hasn't developed any rocket in the country itself, before Nuri.
c. South Korea may use the technology which is used in Nuri, in Ballistic missiles.

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A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c
2. Which of the following statements is/are FALSE according to the above passage?
a. The rocket launched in 2010 by Seoul failed outright.

b. South Korea is not in a competitive state with any country.
c. South Korea justifies its technological prowess when it comes to space exploration.
3. Which of the following statements is/are the purpose(s) of Nuri, according to the above
passage?
a. South Korea has the intention to execute future launches of Nuri.

b. South Korea may want to use Nuri to achieve military weapon goals.
c. South Korea wants to invest in Nuri in order to fix their failed image in space
exploration.
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
In his comments, President Moon admitted the launch fell short of their goals, but added:
"It's not long before we'll be able to launch it exactly into the target trajectory," Reuters
news agency reported.
4. Which of the following words can be synonymous with the word 'trajectory', as used in
the above passage?
a. objective
b. path
c. route

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A. Only a B. Only b and c C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c
While South Korea says it intends to use Nuri to launch satellites, the test has also been
viewed as part of the country's ongoing ramp-up in weapons development.
5. Which of the following words carry/carries the opposite meaning to the word 'ramp-up',
as used in the above passage?
a. diminution
b. augmentation
c. step-down
A. Only a and c B. Only b and c C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c
6. Why does the author think that South Korea may use Nuri for military purposes too?
a. Because, both South Korea and North Korea are each other's contenders and both
have been involved in military activities recently.
b. Because, both Nuri and ballistic missiles share the same technology.
c. Because, South Korea has had failures in launching rockets previously.
7. How would you describe the author's tone(s) in the entire passage?
a. conjectural
b. illustrative
c. reproving
A. Only a and c B. Only a and b C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c

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Direction(8-11): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow.
For much of his captaincy and career as an international cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni
aka Captain Cool, did not carry a mobile phone. Or if he had one, few had his number. Ravi
Shastri, who was the Indian cricket team’s manager and head coach for a significant part of
MS’s tenure as captain, speaking to ESPN, says, “Till today, I don’t have his number. I have
never asked for his number. I know he doesn’t carry his phone with him. When you want to
get in touch with him, you know how to get in touch with him. He is that kind of a person.”
Now, I have at various points in my life envied MS. When he was younger, for his helicopter
shot, and as I grew older, his calm temperament. But when I read Shastri’s comments on
him not being glued to a mobile phone, I was amazed.
Today, mobile phones are used to take calls, answer emails, watch movies, check social
media, shop online, use messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal and take pictures with the
built-in camera. It’s common to see a couple out for dinner in a nice restaurant, glued to their
phones. Or lawyers like me running between the 16 courtrooms of the Supreme Court, while
checking our phones. It’s the lawyer version of a high-speed Olympic discipline.
In 2018, Jessica Brown, writing for the BBC, reported that around 3 billion people or 40% of
the world’s population, use online social media. Importantly, we spend on average two hours
a day “sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on platforms”. This is roughly half a million
tweets and Snapchat photos every minute. She says that a study published in the journal
“Computers and Human Behaviour” found that people who report using seven or more
social media platforms were three times more likely as people using 0-2 platforms to have
higher levels of general anxiety symptoms.
But it’s not just that our daytime hours are being consumed by tech’s virtual world. It is also
that our nighttime routines are being disrupted in ways that evolution never intended for our
species.
Matthew Walker in his extraordinarily well researched book “Why We Sleep” notes that over
17,000 studies link good sleep to longer life — __________________________________. It
wards off cold and flus, lowers risks of heart attacks and strokes and makes one feel happier

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and less depressed. Walker reminds us that Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth in 1611 in Act
Two, Scene Two, “sleep is the chief nourisher in life’s feast”.
8. Which of the following questions may come to the author's mind when reading
Shastri’s comments on MS Dhoni?
a. How had MS escaped the invasion of his mind by technology — in this case, the
mobile phone?
b. How had MS managed to retain his self-possession even in the most critical
moments?
c. How could MS remain so nonchalant till now?
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. Only b E. All a, b and c
But it’s not just that our daytime hours are being consumed by tech’s virtual world. It is also
that our nighttime routines are being disrupted in ways that evolution never intended for our
species.
9. Which of the following statements can be CONTEXTUALLY LINKED to the above

portion of the passage?
a. Human beings evolved to coordinate their sleep with darkness and waking with
sunlight.
b. You've to put your smartphone away or limit your use of it if you want to get a decent
night’s sleep and stay healthy because sleep is critical to our health and longevity.
c. Mobile phones have quickly become taken as much for granted as electricity or and
we really don’t remember quite how life was before mobile phones existed.
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b

and c

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10. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the FOURTH PARAGRAPH
of the above passage?
a. Technology has made the virtual world easily accessible.

b. Social media has a reinforcing nature.
c. The social media platforms are designed to be compulsive and are associated with
disquiet, depression, and even physical ailments.

and c
Matthew Walker in his extraordinarily well researched book “Why We Sleep” notes that over
17,000 studies link good sleep to longer life — __________________________________. It
wards off cold and flus, lowers risks of heart attacks and strokes and makes one feel happier
and less depressed.
11. Which of the following statements can most appropriately fit in the blank in the
above statement?
a. it obviates the need to be more high-yielding

b. it lowers food cravings
c. it protects against dementia

and c
follow.
For decades, frustrated neurologists had nothing but palliative care to offer as the grey
matter covering the brain — which is responsible for processing thoughts and many of the
higher functions, such as memory — degenerated progressively in patients with Alzheimer’s
disease. First identified in 1906, the cognitive disorder has been one of the most difficult
challenges for healthcare systems globally. The failure rate of drugs to combat it is 99.6 per

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cent — for cancer, this rate is around 81 per cent. That’s why the result of clinical trials of
lecanemab, a new drug developed by pharma companies Biogen and Eisai, has generated
hope. On Tuesday, the two companies announced that the drug slowed down the rate of
memory and thinking decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients by 27 per cent.
Lecanemab is an antibody that cleans protein deposits on brain cells, believed by a section
of scientists to cause cognitive impairments. Known as the “amyloid hypothesis,” their thesis
holds that clumps of the protein beta-amyloid accumulate in toxic proportions as the disease
progresses. In clinical trials, several drugs have shown the ability to reduce the plaque
build-up caused by the protein but they have failed to alter the trajectory of dementia in
patients, leading several experts to question the amyloid hypothesis.
More than 50 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide. In the past 20 years, mortality
caused by the disease has shot up by more than 120 per cent. Experts believe that these
figures do not depict the true extent of the healthcare problem.
The drug candidates like lecanemab that target early-stage patients could hold the key in the
battle against Alzheimer’s. For that, pharma research must be accompanied by addressing
two other imperatives: _____________________________________________.
12. If you have to describe how the treatment status for Alzheimer’s disease has been
for decades, which of the following statements can be chosen for that?
a. Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease have been associated with relieving pain without
dealing with the cause of the condition.
b. The treatments have not been curative for Alzheimer's disease, but there have been
medicines available that could temporarily reduce the symptoms.
c. The treatments for Alzheimer's disease have always been therapeutic and also
restorative.

and c

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13. The passage has talked about the new therapy Lecanemab by pharma companies
Biogen and Eisai positively. Yet, if there are some significant things that have not
been answered by this therapy, which of the following points can be chosen?
a. Right now, assuming the companies’ announcement aligns with their trial data; hence
more information on how patients fare long-term is needed.
b. How the rollout of Lecanemab will proceed in the real world.
c. How long the drug works and how long one should continue it.

and c
More than 50 million people have Alzheimer’s worldwide. In the past 20 years, mortality
caused by the disease has shot up by more than 120 per cent. Experts believe that these
figures do not depict the true extent of the healthcare problem.
14. Which of the following statements can be chosen that will support the experts and
their belief?
a. In many parts of the world, dementia is seen as a fallout of the aging process and
people do not seek medical care.
b. People are uniting from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge
the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
c. Research has shown that in a large number of cases, the illness begins in the mid to
late forties.

and c
The drug candidates like lecanemab that target early-stage patients could hold the key in the
battle against Alzheimer’s. For that, pharma research must be accompanied by addressing
two other imperatives: _____________________________________________.

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15. Which of the following phrases can most appropriately fit in the blank in the above
portion of the passage?
a. Putting an end to Alzheimer’s disease forever.

b. Increasing awareness about the disease.
c. Making the new medicines accessible to all.

and c
follow.
An unmanned spacecraft, launched 10 months ago, collided with an asteroid — which itself
was moving at an astounding pace — at 15,000 kmph, destroying itself and changing the
asteroid's motion. By doing so, NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) has come
very close to hitting its mark. Statistically speaking, given the sheer number of such bodies
making their way across the cosmos, the probability of one reaching the earth’s surface is 1.
So, kudos are clearly in order to the fine people at NASA and Johns Hopkins University, who
pulled off the feat that will almost certainly save lives one day. Unfortunately, a rock from
space is only one of the existential threats that the last of the hominins face. And those
threats require a collective effort that is far more difficult than DART and has so often missed
the mark.
16. Which of the following can be chosen as the objective of NASA’s DART, as
expressed in the above passage?
a. The objective of the mission is to ensure that asteroids capable of reaching the
earth’s surface and causing loss of life can be intercepted.
b. It was designed as humanity's first experiment in kinetic impact mitigation.
c. The objective of the mission is to ensure that a dangerous asteroid if one was headed
for Earth can be nudged into changing course.

and c

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Unfortunately, a rock from space is only one of the existential threats that the last of the
hominins face.
17. The author is being slightly ironic here.

Which of the following statements can justify the above statement?
a. Even without heavenly intervention, nuclear weapons and/or climate change could
end “life as we know it”.
b. There is no scientific solution to the greed, gluttony and capacity for violent
self-destruction that homo sapiens have shown themselves to be capable of.
c. There is a threat of a potentially hazardous asteroid reaching our planet for at least
the next 100 years.

and c
Short Passage 1
follow.
Even though the RBI has raised the repo rate by 50 basis points, the probability of inflation,
as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), remaining higher than the central bank’s
tolerance band is increasing by the day. The risks are primarily from three sides: The
depreciating rupee, fast-depleting grain stocks, especially of wheat, and vagaries of weather
as a result of climate change.
On the fast depreciating rupee, one thing is clear: As the US Federal Reserve raises its
interest rates, there is going to be pressure on the Indian rupee and many other currencies
around the world. We may draw some consolation from the rupee holding out relatively
better than many other major currencies, such as the yen or the pound. But even a 10%
depreciation in the rupee since January 2022 poses a risk of imported inflation, especially
through crude oil and gas and fertilisers and edible oils. The RBI has already spent more
than $80 billion to support the rupee, and there are limits to which it can go. And, if RBI tries

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to hold the rupee artificially high, it will adversely hit Indian exports, widening the current
account deficit and putting further pressure on the rupee. The best that RBI can and should
do is to avoid a sudden and abrupt fall in the rupee, but also let it find its natural level given
what is happening globally, especially in the currency markets.
18. Which of the following statements can justify the three sides, as expressed in the
FIRST PARAGRAPH?
a. Heavy rainfall, flooding, heat waves and droughts erode agriculture, infrastructure
and workers' ability to stay on the job — all of which lead to supply-chain breakdowns
and worker shortages.
b. Since Indian currency is exchanged in dollars, every time the rupee falls, we pay
more Indian currency to buy dollars.
c. Decision to ban exports of wheat due to fast-depleting grain stocks amid soaring
inflation may not have a major impact when it comes to cooling off hardening food
prices.

and c
19. What will be the implication(s) if RBI tries to hold the rupee artificially high, as
expressed in the above passage?
a. The country will be importing more than it will be exporting.

b. The Indian currency will be buffeted and will further weaken.
c. The country will be exporting more than it will be importing.

and c
20. The best course of action RBI should follow as mentioned by the author, will
ensure which of the following?
a. Macroeconomic stability and price stability

b. Low inflation

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c. The fact that rupee might drop in price a bit but will not collapse

and c
Short Passage 1
follow.
India has natural gas reserves. Of that, there is no doubt. IHS CERA has estimated India
has undiscovered gas resources of approximately 64 TCF(trillion cubic feet). The bulk of this
is, however, in harsh topography and complex geology. These reserves are difficult to locate.
Furthermore, even if located, they are difficult to bring to market on economically viable
terms. BP and its coventurers have, for instance, spent about 5 billion dollars over the period
2011 and 2019 to produce 3 TCF of gas. They expect to spend a further 6 billion dollars to
produce an additional 3 TCF.
The reality is India is a high-risk exploration play. There are inherent geologic, technical, and
economic obstacles to achieving commercial success. On top of such obstacles, a further
constraint of administered pricing isn't expected. The government must recognise and adapt
to this hard truth. It should also note that petroleum companies have reduced their
exploration budgets under pressure to shift away from fossil fuels.
21. Why possibly are the undiscovered reserves, as mentioned in the above passage,
difficult to be brought to market on economically viable terms even if they are
located?
a. Because, the cost of creating the development will be stupendous.

b. Because, the cost of production infrastructure will be massive.
c. Because, those reserves are almost unfeasible to be located.

and c

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On top of such obstacles, a further constraint of administered pricing isn't expected.
22. If there is a further constraint of administered pricing, what will be the possible
outcomes?
a. Impressive progress towards clean energy would be achieved.

b. It would most likely kill incremental investor interest.
c. Gas producers would be granted unfettered marketing and pricing freedom.
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b D. Only b and c E. None of a, b and c
Short Passage 3
follow.
It turns out moonlighting, the practice of dual employment (typically conducted furtively with
one boss blissfully unaware of another) has been rampant in IT circles during the pandemic;
unsurprisingly, it’s far easier holding down two jobs working from home.
Since contradiction is encoded in human DNA, what was considered subversive and
unethical just five years ago is now verging on mainstream approval. Food delivery platform
Swiggy launched a ‘Moonlighting Policy’ in August which encourages employees to
undertake side gigs to sustain their finances. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for
Electronics and IT, said companies need to be more flexible about these arrangements.
However, traditional companies tend to take a grim view of freelancing.
However, traditional companies tend to take a grim view of freelancing.
23. Which of the following facts can justify the above scenario?
a. Last week, Wipro, a traditional IT company, fired 300 people for “integrity violation”,
for working for their competitors.

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b. Tech Mahindra has accepted having a second parallel job as a “reality”.

c. TCS CEO said he could be open to the practice of moonlighting if it helps employees
make extra money.
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b D. Only a and c E. None of a, b and c
24. Which of the following statements can be chosen in support of moonlighting?
a. This could encompass activity outside of office hours or on weekends that does not
impact their productivity on the full-time job.
b. It will not have any conflict of interest with any company in any way.
c. Moonlighting appears to have divided traditional tech companies and new-age ones.

and c
25. According to you, if a company does support moonlighting, which of the following
situations should make the company be careful and act?
a. Moonlighting is shifting towards daylighting.

b. There is a risk of data and confidential information leakage.
c. The second job is outlawed.

and c
follow.
As Bengaluru reels under floods, schools are shut and tech firms have urged employees to
work from home. Power and water supply have been hit in many areas. Residents in
expensive enclaves have had to be evacuated from their flats and villas and CEOs of MNCs

28
reportedly had to wade through water and even travel on tractors to work. There is flooding
in the Outer Ring Road area, which hosts tech firms that bring in revenue of billions of
dollars annually. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMK) Chief Commissioner
has blamed the extreme weather conditions — this is reportedly the city’s second wettest
rainy season in 50 years. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai attributed it to the
“maladministration” and “unplanned” development under previous governments. There is
truth in that explanation but the CM did not reveal what his government has done to break
from the past, or correct it. The unfortunate fact is that the Bommai administration has been
busy with polarising issues such as hijab in educational institutions, or in stoking spectres of
conversion, rather than attending to Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure.
26. Which of the following possible factors are responsible for the devastating flood
in Bengaluru, as expressed in the above passage?
a. Loss of interconnectivity among lakes due to encroachment of drains or dumping of

solid wastes/construction and demolition wastes.
b. Narrowing and concretising storm water drains impairing hydrological functions of the
natural drains.
c. Loss of pervious areas - reduction of open spaces, wetlands and vegetation cover.

and c
27. Which of the following statements would most likely strengthen Bengaluru chief
minister Basavaraj Bommai's claim, as expressed in the first paragraph?
a. Rs 800 crore was spent on remodelling of drains but that amount was not utilised
properly during the previous government in Bengaluru.
b. All major builders have encroached upon the major drains in the last 15 years;
buildings and roads have been built on stormwater drains and the officials were doing
nothing at the time of issuing licence.
c. The works being executed are of substandard quality and because of the poor work
in the current regime, the entire city is suffering today.

29

and c
But the truth also is that civic bodies are often guilty of impropriety in the use of
resources.
28. Which of the following statements can justify the above statement?
a. The Bengaluru municipality did not maintain proper records of the stormwater
management funds allotted to it under the JNNURM.
b. There is a lack of coordination between the municipality and the Bangalore
Development Authority on utilizing drainage-related funds.
c. Municipal tax rates are far too low for local administrations to build, manage and
renew public services and utilities efficiently.

and c
29. Which of the following can be the possible solution(s) in preventing the flood in
future?
a. A road audit for drainage is urgently needed; the authorities need to ask themselves
whether all roads have stormwater drains on adjacent sides and whether these drains
are networked.
b. Permeable surfaces rather than full concrete be utilised in locations such as parking
lots, footpaths, walking and jogging lanes, common areas in apartments, companies,
and other large structures.
c. People must invest heavily in rainwater harvesting; we need to make sure that we
collect as much of the rainwater as possible, use that to recharge our aquifers and try
to design our plots and apartments and gated communities as zero rainfall discharge
areas.

and c

30
ANSWER
1.(Answer - C. Only b and c
b - TRUE.
Refer to - South Korea has launched its first indigenous rocket Nuri, stepping up the
country's ambitions in space.
indigenous - homegrown.
c - TRUE.
Refer to - While South Korea says it intends to use Nuri to launch satellites, the test has
also been viewed as part of the country's ongoing ramp-up in weapons development.
Ballistic missiles and space rockets use similar technology.
a - FALSE.
Refer to - President Moon Jae-in said the vehicle completed its full flight sequence but
failed in its goal of putting a dummy satellite in orbit.
That means Nuri wasn't mechanically a complete failure.)
b - FALSE.
Refer to - South Korea is locked in an arms race with North Korea, with both recently
test-firing new weapons.
arms race - a pattern of competitive acquisition of military capability between two or more
countries.
Hence, South Korea is indeed in a competitive state with North Korea.
c - FALSE.
Refer to - While South Korea is a technological powerhouse, it has lagged behind other
countries in its development for space exploration.
Hence, South Korea does not justify its technological prowess.
prowess - skill.

31
a - TRUE.
Refer to - Previous attempts by Seoul to launch a rocket in 2009 and 2010 failed, with the
second exploding seconds after take-off.
Hence, it's true that the rocket launched in 2010 by Seoul failed outright.
outright - instantly.)
3.(Answer - A. Only a and b
a - Correct.
Refer to - South Korea plans to carry out four more launches of the Nuri until 2027 to
increase reliability, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) that is
overseeing the launch.
b - Correct.
Refer to - Such launches are essential for a space programme but could potentially also
have military applications. South Korea is locked in an arms race with North Korea, with
both recently test-firing new weapons.
c - Incorrect.
Refer to - No such thing is mentioned. It's the author's statement that South Korea
doesn't do well when it comes to space exploration.)
4.(Answer - B. Only b and c)
5.(Answer - A. Only a and c
ramp-up / augmentation - increase.
diminution / step-down - reduction or decrease.)
a - Correct.
Refer to - Such launches are essential for a space programme but could potentially also
have military applications. South Korea is locked in an arms race with North Korea,
with both recently test-firing new weapons. The North put a satellite in orbit in 2012.

32
b - Correct.
Refer to - While South Korea says it intends to use Nuri to launch satellites, the test has
also been viewed as part of the country's ongoing ramp-up in weapons development.
Ballistic missiles and space rockets use similar technology.
c - Incorrect.
It may be true, but it has nothing to do with the author's thinking, as expressed in the
question.)
7.(Answer - B. Only a and b
conjectural - speculative.
illustrative - informative and descriptive.
reproving - conveying or expressing blame or disapproval.
The author hasn't expressed any such expressions.)
8.(Answer - B. Only a
Refer to - But when I read Shastri’s comments on him not being glued to a mobile phone, I
was amazed.
That means, the fact that MS is not glued to a mobile phone surprises the author.
Hence, only a is the question that can come to the author's mind.
b and c - Incorrect. These are nonspecific.

This aren't directly linked to the fact mentioned.)
9. (Answer - D. All a, b and c

33
Our nighttime routines are being disrupted in ways that evolution never intended for
our species.
That means, mobile phones are disrupting our sleep.

Hence b is correct.
a - Correct. Because, it's talking about how we have been habituated with evolution.
c - Correct. It's talking about how mobile phones have changed our lifestyle.
Smartphones are all over a day in our lives.)
a - Correct.
Refer to - around 3 billion people or 40% of the world’s population, use online social media.
b - Correct.
Refer to - Importantly, we spend on average two hours a day “sharing, liking, tweeting and
updating on platforms”.
That means, Social media has a reinforcing nature.
c - Correct.
Refer to - Computers and Human Behaviour” found that people who report using seven or
more social media platforms were three times more likely as people using 0-2 platforms
to have higher levels of general anxiety symptoms.
compulsive - addictive.
disquiet - anxiety.)
The statements must be talking positively about sleep and its contributions.
Hence, only b and c are correct.
a - Incorrect. It's negative.
obviate - remove (a need or difficulty).

34
high-yielding - productive.
Refer to - For decades, frustrated neurologists had nothing but palliative care to offer as
the grey matter covering the brain — which is responsible for processing thoughts and many
of the higher functions, such as memory — degenerated progressively in patients with
Alzheimer’s disease.
palliative - (of a medicine or medical care) relieving pain without dealing with the cause of
the condition.
Hence, only a and b are correct.
c - Incorrect. It's the opposite.
therapeutic - relating to the healing of disease.

restorative - having the ability to restore health, strength, or well-being.)
13.(Answer - D. All a, b and c
These significant areas of concern have not been addressed by the therapy and its
manufacturers yet.
Therefore, all three can be chosen.)
14.(Answer - B. Only a and c
Experts believe that these figures do not depict the true extent of the healthcare
problem.
It's a negative statement.
Hence, the statements that can be chosen must also be worrisome.
c - Correct. The fact that in a large number of cases, the illness begins in the mid to
late forties, is itself a worrying fact.

35
Therefore, only a and c are absolutely right.
b - Incorrect. It may be true but according to the context, it's contradictory.)
These are the two imperatives.
imperative - an essential or urgent thing.
a - Incorrect. It doesn't make sense.

The passage hasn't talked about Alzheimer’s permanent cure. And also, Alzheimer’s
can't be cured permanently as of now.)
kinetic impact mitigation - That's the exact thing that spacecraft did.
Refer to - An unmanned spacecraft, launched 10 months ago, collided with an asteroid —

which itself was moving at an astounding pace — at 15,000 kmph, destroying itself
and changing the asteroid's motion. By doing so, NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid
Redirection Test) has come very close to hitting its mark.)
c - Incorrect. It's contradictory.)
Refer to - The risks are primarily from three sides: The depreciating rupee, fast-depleting
grain stocks, especially of wheat, and vagaries of weather as a result of climate change.
a - Correct.
It justifies the vagaries of weather factors as a result of climate change.

36
b - Correct.
It justifies the depreciating rupee factor.
c - Incorrect.
It's talking about the fast-depleting grain stocks, but not their impact on inflation.)
19. (Answer - A. Only a and b
Refer to - And, if RBI tries to hold the rupee artificially high, it will adversely hit Indian
exports, widening the current account deficit and putting further pressure on the rupee.
current account deficit - The country is importing more than it is exporting.
buffet - strike repeatedly and violently.
c - Incorrect. It's the opposite.)
All three will be ensured if RBI can avoid a sudden and abrupt fall in the rupee, but
also let it find its natural level given what is happening globally, especially in the
currency markets.
Avoiding a sudden and abrupt fall in the rupee will ensure. macroeconomic stability
and price stability and also low inflation.
c - Correct. Yes, according to the above passage, the rupee might drop in price a bit
but if RBI follows this course of action, it will not collapse.)
Only these can be the possible reasons they can't be brought to market on
economically viable terms, after they're located.
c - Incorrect. Because, the question already considered the fact that the reserves are
located. Hence, the phrase - those reserves are almost unfeasible to be located - is
irrelevant.)

37
22.(Answer - C. Only b
Only this is correct.
a and c are both positive outcomes.)
b and c are both CONTRADICTORY.
take a grim view of - take a pessimistic view of.

Hence, a is Correct. Because, Wipro, a traditional IT company, fired 300 people for
“integrity violation”, for working for their competitors.
Hence, Wipro doesn't support moonlighting.)
c - Incorrect. It's a fact neither in support or in opposition to moonlighting.
Hence, a and b are correct since they both are talking positively about moonlighting.)
daylighting - Working on a paid project while being paid by an employer during the same
hours.
This is absolutely unethical and unacceptable.
b and c are also unacceptable.
All these should make the company be careful and act.
outlawed - illegal.)

38
Refer to - A large number of urban wetlands that soak up rainwater have been built
upon, including in Bengaluru. Corrupt civic bodies are guilty of treating cities as
pieces of lifeless real estate to be sliced up for the benefit of the highest bidders.
Hence, c is correct.
Stormwater drains remain locked in decades-old networks, whose deficits are

aggravated by the inefficiency of municipal bodies.
Hence, a and b are correct.)
Refer to - Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai attributed it to the “maladministration” and

“unplanned” development under previous governments.
That means, the CM of Bengaluru has blamed the previous government for the entire
mess.
Hence, a and b are correct. Because, they're talking negatively about the past
government.
c - Incorrect. Because, it's talking negatively about the current government, which is
contradictory to the tone of Bommai.)
impropriety - failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behaviour or

character.
Hence, a and b are correct.
civic bodies - The Bengaluru municipality, Bangalore Development Authority.
resources - drainage-related funds, stormwater management funds.
c - Incorrect. This is indeed a problem but it's not talking about impropriety in the use
of resources.)

39
a - Correct.
Most drains today simply stop at a dead end. These drains should go in a hierarchy
and empty into a lake or a river. Are the cross drainage works adequate like the box
culverts and Hume pipes, and can the water move from one side of the road to the
other? This kind of audit has to be done for all roads in the city.
b - Correct.
In this way, the closed parking areas will not be flooded easily.
c - Correct.
The idea is to hold onto the rain and ensure its positive use rather than letting it run
about and flood the place.)

40
CHAPTER 2 - IDIOMS
Directions(1-3): Identify the option that is similar in meaning to the phrase/idiom in

bold. If none of the options convey the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer.
1. As to be expected, the high command did not react favorably to the home truths.
A. old facts
B. unpleasant facts
C. made-up lies
D. rumours
E. None of the above options
2. I had a close shave this morning when a tractor trailer unexpectedly swerved into my
lane.
A. trimmed beard
B. unexpected surprise
C. a narrow escape
D. heated argument
3. It was an investigation to bring to light examples of extravagant expenditure.
A. make known to others

B. identify
C. handle in a skillful manner
D. benefit unfairly from
Directions Identify the words that are similar in meaning to the phrase/idiom in bold. If none
of the options conveys the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer. The options do not

41
necessarily need to be grammatically correct.
4. Popular culture has taught young women that they will be happy so long as they find the
right man to take care of this, but we all ought to know by now that that is just lip gloss
smeared on emotional manipulation.
A. An exaggeration
B. a misrepresentation
C. a distortion
D. all of the above.
5. The transition from using desktop computers to mobile devices represents a sea change
in data management within the field of information technology.
A. little change
B. a massive shift
C. huge loss
D. great dissension
6. Her transformation has really been like night and day. She doesn't even look like the
same person since she started the program.
A. completely different
B. totally opposite
C. same as previous night
D. full day
E. both a and b
Direction(7-9): In the following question, an idiom/a phrasal verb is used in three

sentences. You've to choose the sentence(s) that has/have used the idiom/the phrasal
verb in it/them correctly.
7.
a. The whole town is against the plans to build a new sports park, so the proposal is up
in the air now.

42
b. Your grandmother is getting up in the air, so you may need to speak a bit more
loudly around her.
c. Rohini and I are supposed to go to Ladakh next weekend, but things are up in the air
now, since she's very sick.

and c
8.
a. We're finally over the moon with this research. All that's left to do are citations.
b. I've been over the moon ever since I got the job in Mumbai —I just can't stop
thinking about the day of joining the office!
c. We're over the moon that you're coming over for Thanksgiving dinner—I think it's
been 20 years since we've seen you.

and c
9.
a. The warning follows a number of incidents in which passengers have made off from
taxis without paying their fares.
b. Even in the gloom, I made off the figures of two large men.
c. He was arrested in the Bareli area by other police officers who made off the bus on
motorcycles.
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
Direction(10-13): Each of the questions below contains a sentence with FOUR blanks,
indicating A PREPOSITION, TWO WORDS and AN IDIOM are missing. The sentence is
then followed by a table containing three prepositions, words and idioms in each
column. You have to choose the correct combination of preposition, word and idiom
that'll fit in those blanks respectively.

43
10. If the Duke should _________________ before his will is ________, the estate would
________ ___ his eldest son instead of me.
A. drop off the D. revised G. pass J. to

hooks
B. drop like a hot E. amended H. slip K. for

potato
C. drop into place F. scrapped I. draw L. with
A. ADGJ
B. BFHK
C. CEIJ
D. BDGL
11. Customers ________________ _____ the store to _________ as many _________ as

they could carry.
A. went like the D. in G. snatch up J. bargains

clappers
B. ran like the devil E. into H. slacken K. steals
C. cut in line F. for I. snap up L. deals
A. ADHJ
B. BFHK
C. CFGL
D. AEIK

44
12. They ___________ on the _______ corporate headquarters today, but it will be years
before we can ________ move ____ it.
A. broke in the D. hackneyed G. literally J. through

weather
B. broke ground E. stale H. actually K. into
C. broke bread F. present-day I. indeed L. to
A. ADHJ
B. BFGK
C. CFGL
D. AEIK
13. My grandfather was an ___________ kind of guy, so it was ________________ that he

would ______ the door open for a lady and allow her to go ________ first.
A. avant-garde D. a matter of G. clutch J. through

course
B. old-fashioned E. a matter of H. hold K. for

record
C. originative F. a matter of time I. grip L. in
A. ADHJ
B. BFGK
C. CFGL
D. BDHJ

45
New Pattern Questions on Idioms
Direction(14-17): In the following question, a small paragraph is given. One or more

than one IDIOM can be derived from the paragraph contextually.
The paragraph is then followed by three IDIOMATIC SENTENCES. You have to identify
the sentence(s) containing the idiom(s) that can be correctly derived from the
paragraph.
14.
Paragraph 1
The rise of China was always going to be a challenge; an authoritarian, opaque militarized
China, relying on strident nationalism for legitimacy even more so. There are no easy
options here. There is no way of confidently knowing what strategy would work. But the
ideological framing of the American sanctions is striking. As Jake Sullivan put it: “We
previously maintained a sliding scale approach that said we need to stay only a couple of
generations ahead. This is not the strategic environment in which we are today. Given the
foundational nature of certain technologies, such as advanced logic and memory chips, we
absolutely have to maintain as large of a lead as possible.”
a. It goes without saying that discretion is of the essence in this situation.

b. Cleaning all that crusted gunk out of the motor was no picnic.
c. Jack’s career is hanging in the balance while they consider what to do.

and c
15.
Paragraph 2
My introduction to Ambedkar and his work came much later, as my school textbooks had
very little about him, usually only describing him as the architect of the Indian Constitution
and leader of the Dalits — overlooking his contribution to labour rights and women’s rights.

46
While studying about the RBI, I did some extra reading and found out that Ambedkar had
been instrumental in its formation, leading me to wonder how little I had been taught about
his work. Eventually, I came across Ambedkar’s work on Buddhism and made the
connection.
a. One day Rohan walked in with his sister, Sunita, and I was absolutely knocked for
six. I'd never seen such an intelligent woman.
b. Traditional bookshops are thin on the ground these days.
c. It's pretty clear from the film's style that the producer had a hand in how it was
directed.

and c
16.
Paragraph 3
Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded India’s Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT) Scheme as a “logistical marvel” that has reached hundreds of millions of people and
specifically benefitted women, the elderly and farmers. Paolo Mauro, Deputy Director in the
IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, praised the role of technological innovation in achieving this
feat. Earlier this month, David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, had also urged
other nations to adopt India’s move of targeted cash transfer instead of broad subsidies
noting that “India managed to provide food or cash support to a remarkable 85 per cent of
rural households and 69 per cent of urban households”.
a. "Thank you so much for that." "I'm glad to have been of service."
b. Many of his comments are worthy of note.
c. I don’t consider her behaviour at all out of the ordinary.

and c

47
17.
Paragraph 4
Over the next 25 years, I do hope to see more opportunities being provided to women. This
notion that not everyone is equal needs to go. Everyone must be treated equally, whether at
home or at work, irrespective of gender. I have been privileged enough to see my mother
working as a doctor, sharing domestic responsibilities with my father who is also a full-time
working professional. They both see the home front as their responsibility, along with their
own careers. This kind of sharing of responsibilities is what I wish to see as the basis of
Indian society in the future.
a. You might have some wild ideas for the future, but you'll never get anywhere in this
business if you don't start playing the game!
b. I thought this was a bit thick and tried to defend myself.
c. A common culture could help unite the classes and promote fellow feeling.

and c
One Paragraph - Two Questions

(Based on the latest happenings)
Direction(18-23): In each of the questions, a small paragraph is given. Two questions

are there from the paragraph. You've to answer those correctly.
Paragraph 1
The festive season can mean many things. Diwali may be about connecting with friends and
family for some and dispelling darkness, physical and spiritual, for others. There is the
metaphor, an archetype really, of the triumph of good over evil — so often deployed for

48
cynical political ends. But this year, for the first time since the pandemic cast its pall over
every celebration, there is the return of something that is ubiquitous but not often
appreciated. The gift — the shopping and consumption that fuels the economy of exchange
— is back with a bang. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), shopping
this festive season has exceeded last year’s figures and is almost double the amount of the
pre-pandemic year (2019) at $27 billion. But in the exchange of gifts, in the giving spirit of
the season, there is also something more important than pecuniary benefit.
18. In which way can you look at the fact that shopping this festive season has
exceeded last year’s figures and is almost double the amount of the pre-pandemic
year?
a. Pent-up demand has finally found release.

b. Despite inflation and price rise, the animal spirit of the Indian consumer has been
unleashed.
c. The entire scenario is giving a fillip to growth prospects despite economic gloom
elsewhere in the world.

and c
19. Which of the following statements can be chosen to justify the LAST LINE of the
paragraph?
a. After all, all that shopping spreads wealth and makes the economy go round.
b. The demand is not merely for things — gadgets, cars, clothes and phones; it is, more
importantly, a mass act of reaching out and building social connections.
c. Business relationships are set up through the exchange of gifts, as are social
hierarchies; it is in the act of gift exchange that society is set up.

and c
Paragraph 2

49
It took 61 days for Liz Truss to win the support of the Conservative party and become UK’s
Prime Minister after Boris Johnson resigned in July. She lost that support in just 44 days.
Her resignation on Thursday makes her the PM with the shortest tenure in British history.
Looking back, Truss’s fate was sealed the day her long-time collaborator and Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, presented the new government’s “mini-budget”. Truss had
won the leadership contest within the party, edging out Rishi Sunak, on the promise of
rebooting economic growth in the UK. While her “mission” of creating “a low tax, high wage,
high growth economy” was an inspiring one, her mini-budget, as she admitted later, “went
further and faster than markets were expecting”.
20. Which of the following statements can be made on Liz Truss's mini budget?
a. Truss’s budget proposals were ill-timed and poorly conceived.

b. Truss’s budget lacked fiscal rectitude.
c. Truss announced that she would both cut taxes as well as provide an energy price
cap for the whole population for two years, but, without any new sources of revenue
or taxes, this spending meant a spike in the government’s borrowings.

and c
21. Why possibly did Truss's mini budget fail?
a. As the markets were very fragile and nervous, fiscal easing added to inflation.
b. There was a hostile market reaction to the mini-budget that led to most of the tax
changes being reversed.
c. The plan, which proposed unfunded tax cuts, huge government borrowing and
exempted energy companies from a windfall tax, sent the pound tumbling to its lowest
level against the dollar in decades.

and c
Paragraph 3

50
The Narendra Modi government has raised the minimum support price (MSP) of the
2022-23 wheat crop by Rs 110 to Rs 2,125 per quintal. This increase is more than the Rs 40
and Rs 50/quintal hikes of the preceding two years, but justifiable for three reasons. The first
is that public wheat stocks, at 22.75 million tonnes (mt) as on October 1, are only below last
year’s 46.85 mt, but close to the 20.52 mt required buffer for this date. Second, benchmark
prices of wheat at the Chicago Board of Trade exchange, at about $312 per tonne now, are
13.3 per cent higher than a year ago. Third, the rupee has fallen 9.7 per cent against the
dollar during this period, further widening the wedge between domestic and global prices.
The cheapest wheat from Russia will cost Rs 30/kg-plus at Indian ports today.
public wheat stocks, at 22.75 million tonnes (mt) as on October 1, are only below last year’s
46.85 mt, but close to the 20.52 mt required buffer for this date.
22. Justify why the above fact has been cited as one of the reasons the hike of MSP is
justifiable for.
a. Farmers, therefore, need to be paid enough for refilling the Food Corporation of
India’s warehouses.
b. Not only does this represent a 37 per cent decline from the stocks a year ago, it is
also the lowest level for the same date since 2017.
c. It’s just right to induce farmers to sow wheat in the coming weeks, so that public
wheat stocks become adequate again.

and c
23. How would you describe MSP, as expressed in the entire paragraph?
a. Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of

India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
b. It is recommended by the government and aims to safeguard the farmer to a
minimum profit for the harvest while at the same time increasing food security in the
country.

51
c. The MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers, and is
based on a calculation of at least one-and-a-half times the cost of production incurred
by the farmers.

and c
Direction(24-26): Each question has three sets of statements. Each set contains a pair
of sentences wherein the first statement consists of an idiom/phrase while the
second statement talks about a situation which may or may not depict the meaning of
the idiom/phrase. You are required to select the pairs which correctly show the
meaning of the idioms in the second statement.
24. M.
I. The typhoon laid waste to the coast of Japan, causing damage of biblical
proportions.
II. Eating disorders, researchers believed, were essentially more severe forms of
disordered eating.
N.
I. After shooting the lights out on Saturday night, the Mavericks have a chance at the
playoffs for the first time in nearly 30 years.
II. It was just luck that I asked for a job at the right time.
O.
I. A basic computer won't work—we need the big iron for this project.
II. A group of intelligent individuals is always a wonderful addition to a big organization.
A. Only M and N B. Only M C. Only O D. All M, N and O E. None of M, N and O
25. M.
I. The issues that you're trying to ignore in your relationship will come to a head
eventually, so you might as well deal with them now.
II. Real actions must be taken right now to protect aid workers and hold those
responsible accountable.
N.

52
I. The senator has stated numerous times that he holds no brief for the "rights" of big
corporations.
II. It’s a clash of opinions with the employee believing “I clearly deserve that promotion”
to the manager thinking “No, you don’t.”, because he's unwilling to promote him.
O.
I. I've been plodding along with my thesis for the last few weeks and making some
decent progress.
II. But having won the war, the rebels need to move rapidly to secure the peace before
that forbearance gives way to anger and division.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O E. None of

M, N and O
26. M.
I. I think that palm-greasing is the only way we're going to get a table without a
reservation.
II. He bribed immigration officials and entered the country illegally.
N.
I. We're in a jam now because the hotel gave our room away!
II. She was utterly confused about what had happened.
O.
I. Actually, in our relationship, we both wear the trousers—we make decisions
together.
II. Grandma Helene is in charge of our family; she doesn't love her role though.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O E. None of

M, N and O
27. A.

53
I. "Did you understand what she was saying?" B: "My Japanese isn't great anymore,
but I think I got the gist of it."
II. At the end of the news, they often give you a summary of the main stories which can
be easily understood by you.
B.
I. The company headquarters in London is sending across a new prototype to our
New York office.
II. The police have been instructed to patrol the building and surrounding area.
C.
I. Despite the turbulence in the first few years, the president is now riding off into the
sunset with a sky-high approval rating and a whole host of policies enacted under his
watch.
II. The college management resolved every issue in a neat, happy, and satisfactory
fashion.
A. Only A and B B. Only A and C

C. Only B and C D. All A, B and C
E. None of A, B and C
28. A.
I. I suggest you pay the bill tout de suite, or the bank will start charging you interest.
II. I recognized my old friend straight away.
B.
I. I'll agree to some of your requests if you'll meet me halfway and allow me to
implement some of my ideas.
II. If you want to live with your partner peacefully, sometimes, you've to compromise with
her/him in any sort of disagreement.
C.
I. There's so much good food here. I'm definitely going to make a pig of myself
tonight.
II. Come on, why aren't you dancing? Enjoy yourselves!


54
29. A.
I. I went on the prowl for a new television at a good price but found nothing.
II. I've searched everywhere with utmost urgency, but I can't find my birth certificate.
B.
I. Sally is the most qualified candidate by far, so she's a dead cert for the promotion.
II. The police seem certain that they will certainly find the people responsible for the
attack.
C.
I. It's a crying shame that the car just died—I planned to give it to you someday.
II. I'm sorry, you've called at an inopportune moment.

ANSWER
1. (Answer - B. unpleasant facts)
2. (Answer - C. a narrow escape)
3. (Answer - A. make known to others)
4.D
Solution: lip gloss: An exaggeration, misrepresentation, or distortion of reality, especially to
make it seem happier, more innocent, or more carefree.
5.B
Solution: A sea change: a massive, fundamental shift or transformation.
6.E
Solution:like night and day: completely different; totally or nearly opposite.

55
7. (Answer - B. Only a and c
up in the air - To be uncertain or subject to change.
For statement b, the correct idiom is -

up in years - Advanced in age; old or becoming old.)
8. (Answer - C. Only b and c
over the moon - to be extremely happy or pleased.
In statement a, the correct idiom is -

over the hump - past the most difficult part of something.)
9. (Answer - A. Only a
make off - Leave hurriedly, especially in order to avoid duty or punishment.
In statement b, the correct phrasal verb should be -
make out - Manage with some difficulty to see or hear someone or something.
In statement c, the correct phrasal verb should be -
make after - Pursue someone.)
10. (Answer - A. ADGJ
drop off the hooks - to die.
drop like a hot potato - To abandon someone or something suddenly and completely,
sometimes to avoid potential problems.
drop into place - to suddenly make sense.
scrapped - cancelled.)

56
11.(Answer - D. AEIK
go like the clappers - To move extremely quickly or vigorously.
run like the devil - To escape (a person or situation) as fast as one can.
cut in line - To enter somewhere in the middle of a line of people who are waiting for
something, rather than standing behind the last person, as is customary.
snap up / snatch up - to grab.
steal / bargain / deal - a profitable purchase.)
12.(Answer - B. BFGK
break ground - To start a construction project.
break in the weather - A period of time in which bad weather, such as heavy snow or rain,
has abated.
Hence, it can't be used as a verb.
break bread - to eat.
stale / hackneyed - old.
All adverbs have the same meaning.)
13.(Answer - D. BDHJ
a matter of course - An action or result that is expected or logical.
a matter of record - A recorded or proven fact.
a matter of time - An inevitability or eventuality.
avant-garde - radically new or original.

originative - original.)

57
be of the essence - To be a key consideration, of great importance, or absolutely

necessary.
Refer to - Given the foundational nature of certain technologies, such as advanced logic
and memory chips, we absolutely have to maintain as large of a lead as possible.”
be no picnic - To not be an easy person or thing to deal with.

Refer to - There are no easy options here.
sth hanging in the balance - sth uncertain.)

Refer to - There is no way of confidently knowing what strategy would work.)
knocked for six - surprised and utterly impressed to a great degree.

Refer to - While studying about the RBI, I did some extra reading and found out that
Ambedkar had been instrumental in its formation, leading me to wonder how little I had
been taught about his work.
thin on the ground - insufficient and inadequate.

Refer to - My introduction to Ambedkar and his work came much later, as my school
textbooks had very little about him, usually only describing him as the architect of the
Indian Constitution and leader of the Dalits — overlooking his contribution to labour rights
and women’s rights.
have a hand in - To be involved or influential in the planning, creation, or execution of

something.
Refer to - While studying about the RBI, I did some extra reading and found out that
Ambedkar had been instrumental in its formation,....
instrumental - involved.)
be of service - to be beneficial.

58
Refer to - Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded India’s Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) Scheme as a “logistical marvel” that has reached hundreds of millions of
people and specifically benefitted women, the elderly and farmers.
of note - laudable and suitable to be copied or followed.

Refer to - Earlier this month, David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, had also
urged other nations to adopt India’s move of targeted cash transfer instead of broad
subsidies
And, Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded India’s Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) Scheme as a “logistical marvel”
out of the ordinary - unusual and unprecedented.

No such thing is expressed.)
play the game - to behave fairly.

Refer to - Everyone must be treated equally, whether at home or at work, irrespective of
gender.
fellow feeling - sympathetic awareness or tolerance; understanding.

Refer to - They both see the home front as their responsibility, along with their own careers.
This kind of sharing of responsibilities is what I wish to see as the basis of Indian society
in the future.
a bit thick - unfair or unreasonable.

No such expression has been expressed.)
pent-up - suppressed.
Absolutely! The demand was suppressed due to the pandemic. Now it's not a problem
anymore, that suppressed demand has finally found release.
b and c - Certainly true.

59
fillip - stimulus.
Of course! More sales, more boost to the economy.)
The last line - But in the exchange of gifts, in the giving spirit of the season, there is also
something more important than pecuniary benefit.
a - Incorrect. It's absolutely contradictory.

Refer to - there is also something more important than pecuniary benefit.
pecuniary - financial or monetary.
b and c - Certainly Correct. Because, they are talking about aspects other than
money.)
According to the above paragraph, Truss's mini-budget was a failure and it made her
resign.
Hence, a and b are absolutely correct.
financial rectitude - If someone talks about fiscal rectitude, they are concerned with doing
the right thing financially.
c - Correct.
Refer to - While her “mission” of creating “a low tax, high wage, high growth economy”
But, this spending meant a spike in the government’s borrowings.
Hence, it became a failure.)
b - Incorrect. It can't be the reason. It's just what happened after the mini-budget was
announced.

60
a and c are absolutely correct as they mentioned what actually happened

specifically.)
a and c are actually the same.
If the stock is low, it must be made sufficient again.

For that, farmers have to be encouraged to sow more. And
hiking the MSP will do that job. Because, hiking the MSP means paying the farmers
more.
b - Incorrect. It can't be a justification.)
All can be the correct descriptions of MSP according to the overall description in the
entire paragraph.)
24. (Answer - B. Only M
of biblical proportions - huge, severe or catastrophic.
shoot the lights out - To perform exceptionally well; to completely dominate one's
opponent.
But, statement II is talking about luck.
big iron - A very fast and powerful mainframe computer.

But, statement II is talking about a group of intelligent people.)
25. (Answer - A. Only M and N
come to a head - To reach a point of intensity at which action must be taken.
hold no brief for someone or something - To be unable or unwilling to tolerate or support

someone or something.
plod along - To move, progress, or develop at a slow but constant and deliberate pace.

61
But, statement II is talking moving rapidly.)
26. (Answer - B. Only M and O
palm-greasing - The act of bribing one discreetly, as by slipping money into their palm.
to be in a jam - To be in a troublesome situation.

But, statement II is talking about being confused.
wear the trousers - To be in charge in a relationship or family.)
27.(Answer - C. Only B and C
get the gist - To understand the central, essential, or general matter of something, such as
an argument, speech, concept, process, etc., without being proficient in the more specific
details.
But, statement II is talking about summary.
send across - To cause, compel, instruct, or direct someone.
ride (off) into the sunset - To resolve or conclude things in a neat, happy, and satisfactory
fashion; to retire from work, use, or relevance, especially on a positive note or after a long
and successful period of activity.)
28.(Answer - A. Only A and B
tout de suite - immediately.

straight away - immediately.
meet one halfway - To compromise with someone, often in an argument or disagreement.
make a pig of (oneself) - To eat too much food in one sitting or to eat sloppily.
But, statement II is talking about enjoying.)
29.(Answer - D. All A, B and C

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go on the prowl - To start to actively search for someone or something.
be a dead cert - To be almost certain to do a certain thing or to succeed in a particular area.
be a crying shame - To be problematic and inopportune.

inopportune - happening or done at a time that is not suitable or convenient.)

63
CHAPTER 3 - PARAJUMBLE
Direction (1-5): The question consists of five statements labelled A, B, C, D, and E

which when logically ordered form a coherent passage. Choose the option that
represents the most logical order.
(A)Decades ago, mundane email enabled virtually instantaneous communication around the
world.
(B)The entire internet technology wave, for example, was a communications paradigm
rooted in sending messages.
(C)And the thirty years of consumer internet thus far have represented the generalization of
that paradigm.
(D)Every great technology wave has a paradigm, a very broad and deep movement that is
only barely perceptible in its infancy.
(E)This paradigm typically blossoms into many forms over years, even decades, to come.
Q1. Which among the following will be the fourth sentence of the paragraph after the
rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B
Q2. Which among the following will be the second sentence of the paragraph after the
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) C
(c) E
(d) D
(e) A

64
Q3. Which among the following will be the fifth sentence of the paragraph after the
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) C
(c) D
(d) B
(e) E
Q4. Which among the following will be the FIRST sentence of the paragraph after the
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) D
(c) C
(d) E
(e) A
Q5. Which among the following will be the third sentence of the paragraph after the
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) B
(e) C

(A) It allows them to make reference to deep-layer technologies like the neural networks that
are building the Artificial Intelligence (AI) brains of the immediate future.
(B)Users today are often more focused on which app, which device, which online web
service and which user interface option they’re going to have to play with.

65
(C) They are ignoring the provenance, progeny and posterity of the data streams that feed
all of the upper-tier technology layers that they actually touch every day.
(D)The unfortunate side effect of data being so prevalent, populous and all-pervading in
modern IT systems is that data has sometimes become a throwaway term in some senses.
(E)Technology evangelists love data and talking about data makes them sound smart and
considered.
rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) C
(c) E
(d) D
(e) A
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) C
(c) D
(d) B
(e) E
rearrangement?
(a) B

66
(b) D
(c) C
(d) E
(e) A
rearrangement?
(a) F
(b) D
(c) E
(d) B
(e) C

(A) A recent report from Checkpoint Security notes that ransomware attacks against
healthcare orgs have jumped about 45% since early November.
(B)That followed an alarming 71% spike in October.
(C)In the spring of last year a number of criminal hacker crews pledged to leave hospitals,
nursing homes and other healthcare entities alone until the Covid-19 pandemic passed.
(D) Checkpoint notes that healthcare entities were actually the number one target of
ransomware attacks that month.
(E)At least one ransomware gang saw that as an opportunity.
rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B

67
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) C
(c) E
(d) D
(e) A
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) C
(c) D
(d) B
(e) E
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) C
(c) D
(d) E
(e) A
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) B
(e) C

68

(A) The Biden plan proposes the reinstatement of the Pease Limitation on itemized
deductions.
(B) In order for this plan to become a reality, it still needs to pass Congress and most likely
will have extensive amendments.
(C) Additionally, the tax plan seems to reduce the effective tax benefits of these deductions
from 39.6% to 28% for those earning more than $400,000 of adjusted gross income.
(D) President-elect Joe Biden's policies and tax plans are becoming increasingly more
relevant as his time in office begins.
(E) The Biden plan was published as a component of the platform for the Democratic Party.
rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) C
(c) E
(d) D
(e) A
rearrangement?

69
(a) A
(b) C
(c) D
(d) B
(e) E
rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) D
(c) C
(d) E
(e) A
rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) B
(e) C
Directions(21-23): Rearrange the following SIX sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) in
a proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the questions given
below.
The sentence in bold is fixed and the THIRD statement.
(a) Zawahiri meeting his end in Kabul is a blow for the Taliban regime’s attempts to gain
credibility in other world capitals.
(b) It will be interesting to watch who the outfit now turns to for leadership.

70
(c) That it continues to give refuge to the Al Qaeda despite its Doha commitments
doesn’t bode well either.
(d) Also, for their continued attempts to recruit youth.
(e) While the terror group has lost ground since the daring 9/11 attack, it remains feared for
its shadowy presence and offshoots in many countries.
(f) Eleven years after eliminating Osama bin Laden, United States has announced
triumphantly that it has killed his successor Ayman al-Zawahiri too.
21. Which of the following statements is the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement?
A. f
B. d
C. a
D. e
22. Which of the following combinations is the combination of THREE CONSECUTIVE

statements after the correct rearrangement?
A. a e d
B. f a e
C. a c e
D. c d b
23. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the PENULTIMATE statement and the
CONCLUDING statement, respectively?
A. d b
B. d f
C. b d

71
D. e d
below.
(a) It is clear the Taliban government cannot be trusted with its promises of not harbouring
terror groups that threaten the world.
(b) Also it's not good news for India which is battling the scourge of religious
fundamentalism.
(c) For the Biden administration, Ayman al-Zawahiri's killing comes at a critical moment
when it is domestically battling plummeting economic growth and high inflation.
(d) All eyes will now be on the faction-ridden Taliban establishment.
(e) Also, a Taliban that continues to go rogue isn’t good news for any country.
(f) Internationally too, it will help the US regain some credibility after the botched pullout from
Afghanistan last year.
A. f
B. d
C. a
D. e


72
A. a e d
B. d a e
C. f a e
D. c d a
A. d b
B. d f
C. b d
D. e b
below.
(a) To put that number in context, there are 617 million individuals with a PAN, of whom 467
million have also linked it with their Aadhaar.
(b) GoI’s social media posts said that 6.7 million income tax returns had been filed till 11pm
on July 31.
(c) However, from the practical standpoint of revenue raised, it’s despairingly narrow.
(d) The number of PAN allottees exceeds the size of the workforce.
(e) On paper, India’s potential tax base seems unusually large.
(f) It's just an hour before the deadline.

73
A. f
B. d
C. a
D. e

A. a e f
B. f a b
C. a d e
D. c d f
A. d b
B. d f
C. e c
D. e d
below.
(a) In 2018-19, about half of the 58.7 million returns filed among all taxpayers showed no
income.

74
(b) Therefore, the slice of the potential tax base that yields revenue is tiny.
(c) Five years later, it had increased to 24%.
(d) But the increase in the size of the base that represents the potential for meaningful tax
collection was less than 1 percentage point in a year.
(e) On account of pandemic-induced distortions in the last two years, the five years between
2015 and 2020 are the best recent period to get a sense of trends in the tax base.
(f) Only 20% of non-corporate assessees in 2015-16 had an income exceeding Rs 5 lakh.
30. Which of the following options is the pair of the TERMINAL statement and the
INTRODUCTORY statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. c f
B. b e
C. c b
D. a c

A. c a b
B. f a c
C. c d a
D. e c d
32. Which of the following options is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
SECOND FROM THE BEGINNING statement, respectively, after the correct
rearrangement?
A. c b

75
B. a f
C. d f
D. c d
below.
Parajumble 1
(a) Sedition provisions must go.
(b) The court has also rightly asked that bail be expedited for those already charged under
these provisions.
(c) But all of this will amount to little if the review ends in merely “reforming” the law.
(d) GoI has agreed that sedition law provisions need re-examination, and the Supreme
Court has strongly restrained all authorities from filing cases under IPC Section 124A till the
review is complete.
(e) There’s never been a better moment than now for consigning to history a law that goes
back to the 19th century and that free India should have never had on its statutes for so
long.
(f) We should also note that Narendra Modi has added the considerable weight of his
personality and office to these efforts.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

76

A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
PENULTIMATE statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
Parajumble 2
below.
(a) Also, unlike the US and other developed countries like Canada, Germany and Australia
that have been bolstered by immigrants, Japan has waffled.
(b) But Musk has a point.
(c) As a result, fewer citizens in the working age depresses consumption overall and
increases the social security burden on the available workforce.

77
(d) Many in Japan weren’t amused.
(e) Elon Musk was typically provocative and – to some – rude in his tweet predicting an
existential threat for Japan, where the death rate has for long outstripped the birth rate.
(f) Japan’s population fell by over half a million in 2021 and its birth rate is among the lowest
in the world.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d

78
Parajumble 3
Directions(39-41): Rearrange the following SEVEN sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)
and (g) in a proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the
questions given below.
(a) That means the numbers of young people in their teens, 20s and 30s are swelling – the
demographic implications of the latest TFR will be felt only down the line.
(b) The NFHS-5 survey reveals that the total fertility rate(TFR), or the average number of
children born to each woman, has declined below replacement levels to 2.0 from 2.2 in
2015-16.
(c) If policy is unable to create jobs for today’s youth bulge, this cohort transforms in a few
decades into a demographic burden of millions of unskilled middle aged and elderly citizens
who couldn’t be fully productive during their prime.
(d) But India is still in the midst of a demographic boom.
(e) The failure of the current generation to enter the middle class will also hobble the
prospects of their children by denying them quality education for matching the technological
needs of the fourth industrial revolution.
(f) India’s birth rates are falling.
(g) This is why what India does now will determine what kind of a society it turns out to be.
39. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the CONCLUDING statement and the
INTERMEDIATE statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d

79

A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g
D. b a c
41. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
INTRODUCTORY statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
Parajumble 4
below.
(a) But in this case airline officials should have analysed the situation better and provided
on-the-spot assistance to the child and the parents.
(b) However, aviation regulator DGCA has rightly instituted a probe.
(c) True, civil aviation rules enjoin all airlines to detect and report unruly behaviour and
refuse embarkation to unruly passengers deemed a threat to airline staff and other
passengers.

80
(d) It exposes the lack of sensitivity towards the differently-abled in this country.
(e) The controversy over a budget airline denying boarding to a special needs child in a
wheelchair at Ranchi airport is first and foremost another heart-breaking incident.
(f) The airline has stood by its decision and said that the child was reportedly in a “state of
panic” due to which boarding was denied.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

A. f c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d f
A. b c
B. a f
C. f c

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D. c d
Parajumble 5
below.
(a) Needless to say, household response to hardening interest rates will hugely influence
both savings and investment.
(b) Along with it, more repo rate increases are likely.
(c) One way to gauge what lies ahead is to look at how the adjustments will play out through
the intertwined savings and investments channels.
(d) RBI’s inflation outlook, which forecast a declining trajectory in the subsequent quarters of
the financial year, will be revised.
(e) After the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee (MPC) increased the repo
rate last week, there’s ground to make two assumptions.
(f) These two widely held views will catalyse adjustments by all stakeholders in the
economy.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

82

A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
Directions(48-50): Rearrange the following SEVEN sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)
and (g) in a proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the
questions given below.
(a) This development is welcome because the issue is not about protecting national security.
(b) The committee will be headed by a retired apex court judge.
(c) The Government of India has both the obligation and the lawful means to safeguard
national security.
(d) And it is represented by domain experts in security, technology and law.
(e) The core issue is about the process followed.
(f) The Supreme Court’s decision to appoint a technical committee to examine allegations
about privacy violation of citizens using the spyware Pegasus is the appropriate way to
proceed.
(g) On national security, there is no ambiguity in the law.

83
48. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the CONCLUDING statement and the
INTERMEDIATE statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d

A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g
D. b a c
50. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
INTRODUCTORY statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
Directions: Rearrange the following six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the
proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the questions given below.
A) The 12th Century idol of Hindu goddess Parvati was found at the Bonhams Auction

84
House, they said.
B) Over the past few years, India has amplified efforts to bring back idols and other artefacts
which were stolen or smuggled from temples.
C) A senior police official said the Tamil Nadu police's Idol Wing has "readied papers" to
bring the idol back.
D) In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "more than 200 precious idols" have
been successfully brought back to India since 2014
E) A statue that was stolen in 1971 from a temple in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu
has been traced to New York, police say.
F) Bonhams is a privately owned international auction house which is headquartered in

London.
51. Which of the following options is the pair of the terminal statement and the introductory
statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. DE
B. BD
C. CF
D. CD
E. No replacement required
52. Which of the following is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
A. DE
B. BD
C. CF
D. CB

A. DEF
B. BDA

85
C. FCB
D. CBE
54. Which of the following should be the pair of the Third and Fourth sentences of the
paragraph respectively?
A. DE
B. FC
C. CF
D. CB
55. Which of the following should be the pair of the second and the penultimate
sentences of the paragraph, respectively?
A. DE
B. FC
C. CF
D. AB
below.
(a) Sologamy is not new.
(b) Sologamy, as it’s called, doesn’t have legal standing but it’s attracted more attention than
most celebrity weddings.
(c) Kshama Bindu will be the cynosure of all eyes next week.
(d) Regardless, the novelty of it will not disappear for it challenges the conventional building
block of society, the institution of marriage.

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(e) Known instances of marrying oneself go back a couple of decades, and there may have
been more examples that weren’t in the media glare in less obtrusive times.
(f) She plans to marry herself.
(cynosure - a person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration.
obtrusive - noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way.)
56. Which of the following statements is the INTRODUCTORY statement?
A. f
B. d
C. a
D. c
57. Which of the following statements is the CLOSING statement?
A. b
B. d
C. e
D. f
58. Which of the following statements is the PENULTIMATE statement?

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A. f
B. a
C. e
D. d
A. a
B. f
C. b
D. d
60. Which of the following statements is the SECOND FROM THE BEGINNING
STATEMENT?
A. d
B. f
C. b
D. a
Direction(61-66): Below are some statements, given in a random order. When these
statements are sequenced properly, they'll form a coherent and meaningful
paragraph.
There are various questions based on each of the statements. Read every statement
carefully and answer the questions that follow.

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(a) But Indore’s repeated success begs a question: do its competitors lack energy and
imagination to rid themselves of dirt?
(b) India has a lot to learn about cleanliness from Indore; the results of the seventh edition of
the Swachh Survekshan Awards have made this clear.
(c) The survey of cleanliness standards in India’s cities by the Swachh Bharat Mission and
urban local bodies ranked Indore as India’s cleanest city with Surat and Navi Mumbai
occupying the second and the third spots, respectively.
(d) After all, none of Indore’s rivals has been able to emulate its collective, scientific zeal to
turn spotless.
(e) Over 4,000 cities, towns and local urban bodies participated in this year’s assessment;
the figure was a meagre 73 in 2016, the first year of the survey.
(f) The wider pool of competition makes Indore’s achievement all the more commendable; it
also shows that a larger number of the minders of India’s city-spaces are taking cleanliness
seriously, even if only to win accolades from the government.
(g) However, Indore’s roadmap may encounter roadblocks when it is tried out in other cities,
but the core formula of Indore’s success is replicable.
(h) There is then a strong case for Indian cities to adopt the ‘Indore Model’, which has some
heartening features.
(a) But Indore’s repeated success begs a question: do its competitors lack energy and
imagination to rid themselves of dirt?
61. Which of the following possibilities might be TRUE, according to the above
statement?
a. Indore’s competitor cities may not have the compulsion to keep themselves clean.
b. Indore’s competitor cities may not have the wherewithal for keeping themselves
unsoiled.
c. Indore’s competitor cities may not have the vision of making themselves dirt-free.

and c
(b) India has a lot to learn about cleanliness from Indore; the results of the seventh edition of
the Swachh Survekshan Awards have made this clear.

89
62. Why possibly does India have a lot to learn about cleanliness from Indore?
Use your own reasoning.
a. In 2016, the city having an estimated population of about 35 lakh was ranked 25th in
the cleanliness survey, however, since then things have turned around and Indore
has been ranked the cleanest ever since.
b. For the 6th time in a row, Madhya Pradesh’s Indore has been ranked as the cleanest
city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2022 Awards.
c. The continuous efforts of central and state governments and all citizens in the last
eight years are behind the success of Swachh Bharat Mission.

and c
(c) The survey of cleanliness standards in India’s cities by the Swachh Bharat Mission and
urban local bodies ranked Indore as India’s cleanest city with Surat and Navi Mumbai
occupying the second and the third spots, respectively.
63. How would you describe the tone of the above statement and how would you
describe the actions of Swachh Bharat Mission and urban local bodies, as expressed
in the above statement, respectively?
a. The tone is - factual and the action is - evaluative

b. The tone is - revealing and the action is - asserting
c. The tone is - didactic and the action is - constructional

and c

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(d) After all, none of Indore’s rivals has been able to emulate its collective, scientific zeal to
turn spotless.
64. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the above statement?
a. Indore’s collectivized approach and enthusiasm to turn absolutely clean has been
unmatchable.
b. It's impracticable to come close to Indore’s cooperative enterprise and scientific zeal
to turn spotless.
c. Indore’s cooperative enterprise and the passion to keep it free from dirt has not been
reproduced.

and c
(e) Over 4,000 cities, towns and local urban bodies participated in this year’s assessment;
the figure was a meagre 73 in 2016, the first year of the survey.
65. Which of the following statements can be concluded from the above statement?
a. The sample size of the survey is impressive.

b. There has been a revolution in the way of conducting the survey.
c. There has been a significant upsurge in the number of entrants in this year’s
assessment.

and c
66. Which of the following combinations is the combination of FOUR CONSECUTIVE

STATEMENTS after the correct rearrangement?
A. b a c d
B. e d h g
C. a d h g

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D. c e f d
Directions(67-70): Four small paragraphs are given below, labelled A, B, C and D,

among these, three paragraphs are logically connected. From the given options,
choose the option that does not fit into the theme of the passage.
You're now given three paragraphs. You've to replace the odd paragraph with a
paragraph / paragraphs from the three paragraphs given, that is/are in line with the
other three paragraphs.
67.
A. In a Hindu marriage a daughter is given to a groom of the same caste. Kanyadaan, thus,
is a transaction between the father, the giver, and husband, the taker; Hindu marriage also
has the basic requisite of a valid contract that is: proposal, acceptance and consideration.
B. Hindus have given complete effort or have completely endeavored to idealize the
institution of marriage. Even in Rig Vedas it is mentioned that marriage of Hindus is
considered as a sacramental union.
C. Hindu marriage is considered to be so sacred, it is believed that once marriage is

complete by performing proper rites and ceremonies, the marriage can not be dissolved at
any cost and even after death the souls remain united.
D. As per the ceremonies of Hindu marriage there must be performed for union to be
finished, the fundamental customs are homa, offering of the hand of the lady of the hour and
saptapadi, then the lady and spouse going seven steps together.
A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No statement is ODD
68. Which of the following paragraphs can replace the odd paragraph in the above
context?

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a. Hindu marriage is additionally viewed as a ceremony where the male experiences the
holy observances over a mind-blowing span and the female experiences the basic,
since this is the main ceremony which will be remembered in their life.
b. In the modern era the current idea of marriage is legally binding. Where the western
thoughts are combined. There should be an understanding between the couple with
balance and freedom in life.
c. After the solemnization of marriage, the couple is regarded to be one personality and
because of that reason the ‘gotra’ of the wife is merged into the status and personality
of the husband. In the past the union was considered so sacred that the dissolution of
marriage caused by reasons other than death was considered contrary to the law of
God and nature.

and c
69.
A. It's deeply saddening to say that Election Commission of India has completely lost its
independence and abdicated its Constitutional integrity.
B. The Election Commission of India (EC) is a formidable institution which has led the world
in electoral efficiency since its inception.
But recent incidents involving breach of the Model Code of Conduct, particularly those by
the ruling party, have raised serious credibility concerns.
C. Over the decades, and especially ever since a till-then sleepy body re-energised itself in
the 1990s, the Election Commission has become a success story of India’s democracy. It
inspires widespread trust in its role as neutral and fair poll monitor.
D. Time has come to review the process of appointment of Election Commission. Should it
only remain an appendage to the ruling dispensation?

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70. Which of the following paragraphs can replace the odd paragraph in the above
context?
a. Notifications of dates and schedules of election for filing nominations are issued by
the Election Commission. It is noteworthy that Election commission cannot allot same
symbol to two regional political parties even if they are not in the same state.
b. Elections are the bedrock of democracy and the EC’s credibility is central to
democratic legitimacy. Hence, the guardian of elections itself needs urgent
institutional safeguards to protect its autonomy.
c. Questions are being raised about the conduct of the Election Commission (EC) in the
management and supervision of the election process in the current round of
Assembly elections in various states, as they were during some earlier elections, too.
It is the responsibility of the EC to conduct the elections in a free, fair, impartial and
efficient manner.
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
paragraph.
(a) Reservations for economically weaker sections(EWS) exclude the scheduled castes,
scheduled tribes and other backward classes which were identified by the principles of
historical injustice and lack of representation in jobs and professions.
(b) Equality cannot be calculated by means of sums and monetary factors even if the task of
administration makes such calculations necessary.
(c) Some questions lay bare the difficulties surrounding the notion of equality in this
populous country of many castes and faiths.

94
(d) The EWS category is for the ______ people among the ______ castes only; it is based
on finances and on ______.
(e) Can poverty be the basis for reservations in education and employment?
(f) Not poverty of the ‘educationally and socially’ disadvantaged classes, which have already
been __________________________.
(g) Petitioners have argued that economic criterion alone cannot be the basis for granting
reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
(h) It arose out of the current Indian government’s perception of inequality and was
introduced as a constitutional amendment just before the 2019 elections that returned the
Narendra Modi government to power.
(i) Petitions challenging the amendment are now before the Supreme Court.
(a) Reservations for economically weaker sections(EWS) exclude the scheduled castes,
scheduled tribes and other backward classes which were identified by the principles of
historical injustice and lack of representation in jobs and professions.
71. Which of the following facts about EWS can be TRUE, based on the above
statement?
a. One must fall under the general category to be considered under the EWS category.
b. One just has to be economically backward to get considered under the EWS
category.
c. Reservations under the EWS category aren't based solely on economic criteria.

and c
(b) Equality cannot be calculated by means of sums and monetary factors even if the task of
administration makes such calculations necessary.

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72. Which of the following statements would strengthen the argument - Equality
cannot be calculated by means of sums and monetary factors - as expressed in the
above statement?
a. Ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples and tribal people everywhere face

discrimination.
b. Nowhere in the world do women hold equal political power to men.
c. In 15 US states, black women are incarcerated at rates of between 10 and 35 times
greater than white women.

and c
(c) Some questions lay bare the difficulties surrounding the notion of equality in this
populous country of many castes and faiths.
73. Which of the following can justify the difficulties surrounding the notion of
equality, as expressed in the above statement?
a. Racial discrimination
b. Presence of adequate and equal opportunities
c. Hardships due to poverty and shortage of resources

and c
(d) The EWS category is for the ______ people among the ______ castes only; it is based
on finances and on ______.

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74. Which of the following combinations of WORDS can most appropriately fit in the
blanks in the above statement respectively?
a. impoverished, dominant, caste

b. penurious, presiding, stratum,
c. indigent, ascendant, echelon

and c

A. b c e f
B. e d h g
C. a d h g
D. c e f d
paragraph.
The sentence in bold is fixed and the LAST sentence.
(a) Debating was considered an expression of the engaged, often activist, mind, necessary
in Parliament for civilised arguments before policies or major decisions of a government
were made.
(b) It is not just India; freedom of speech is an endangered creature the world over.

97
(c) Certainly so in the United Kingdom, where heads of schools and universities are
introducing classes on the ‘art’ of disagreeing well.
(d) The Lok Sabha today may seem to manifest a shoddy parody of this tradition, which
came largely from Britain; it is startling that Britain is having to teach children this art as
though it never existed before.
(e) That this is an art which must be taught by itself is worrisome, especially since the
‘artists’ to be taught are between 13 and 26 years.
(f) The pride in being logical and eloquent, the youthful curiosity about other points of view,
fervour for a cause are all part of growing up — or so they were in an older world.
(g) It's sad that young people in schools and colleges are experiencing a lessening of
the freedom to speak in some situations, and their teachers have noticed their
tendency to shut down opinions that do not suit them.
(a) Debating was considered an expression of the engaged, often activist, mind, necessary
in Parliament for civilised arguments before policies or major decisions of a government
were made.
76. Which of the following statements can be chosen for describing the significance
of parliamentary debates, as mentioned in the above statement?
a. Debates involve deliberations over diverse perspectives which enable selection of

most widely accepted views.
b. The Opposition performs its duties of holding the government accountable via
Parliamentary debates and discussions.
c. Parliamentary debates help the courts to comprehend the intent and object of the
laws in a better way.

and c

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(b) It is not just India; freedom of speech is an endangered creature the world over.
a. Throughout the world, people are free to speak their minds, but they have never been
free of the reaction that might ensue.
b. Whether so-called cancel culture restricts speakers is questionable at best.
c. Being able to let words roll off of your tongue without having to second guess your
thoughts is seriously at risk of extinction throughout the world.
A. Only a and b B. Only c C. Only b D. Only a and c E. None of a, b and c
(c) Certainly so in the United Kingdom, where heads of schools and universities are
introducing classes on the ‘art’ of disagreeing well.
78. Why is the ‘art’ of disagreeing well momentous?
a. Because, people with differing views seem to find it increasingly hard to argue
productively.
b. Because, in public debates and private disputes, our inability to take issue well seems
to act as a roadblock to progress.
c. Because, the only thing worse than having toxic arguments is not having arguments
at all.

and c
(d) The Lok Sabha today may seem to manifest a shoddy parody of this tradition, which
came largely from Britain; it is startling that Britain is having to teach children this art as
though it never existed before.

99
79. Which of the following statements about the Lok Sabha can be TRUE, according
to the above statement?
a. The opposition always utilizes every opportunity to make their voices heard in the Lok
Sabha.
b. In the Lok Sabha, debates are held in a cordial atmosphere and Parliamentary
decorum of the highest Standards is maintained.
c. These days see a marked deterioration in the Lok Sabha, when the members of the
ruling party regularly tries to drown the voice of speakers from opposition benches, by
their lung’s power.
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only c D. Only b and c E. None of a, b and c

A. b c e f
B. e f d g
C. a d e g
D. c e f d
paragraph.
The sentence in bold is fixed and the SEVENTH statement.
(a) Earlier this month, India rescued around 130 Indian workers from Myanmar, Laos and
Cambodia after they were lured by agents with the promise of lucrative employment.

100
(b) The Protector General of Emigrants(PGE) is the registering authority and has been
permitted to issue registration certificates to recruiting agents who provide jobs abroad in
line with the Emigration Act, 1983; it's the authority responsible for protecting the interest of
Indian workers going abroad.
(c) In a bid to ease the process of emigration and ensure that unsuspecting labourers do not
fall prey to dubious recruitment claims, the ministry of external affairs has set up an online
portal, eMigrate, to facilitate safe and legal migration.
(d) Also, in 2019, a case was registered against a Mangaluru-based agent for swindling
around 34 youths from Dakshina Kannada by assuring them jobs in Kuwait; the death of
Indian workers in Qatar is another case in point.
(e) The plight of Indian labourers working abroad under exploitative conditions has long
been a matter of concern.
(f) This is a welcome move; but challenges remain; countless illegal recruitment agents who
are not registered with the PGE continue to operate under the radar.
(g) Workers — migrants — availing of the services of non-registered agents often face
problems like ___________________________________.
(h) New Delhi must, thus, work the well-established channels with its foreign allies to
safeguard the rights of migrant workers on their turf.
(i) Even when the ministry of external affairs is notified about the poor condition of Indian
labourers abroad, the rescue and rehabilitation process is further complicated by the lack of
information about registered workers with Indian missions.
(a) Earlier this month, India rescued around 130 Indian workers from Myanmar, Laos and
Cambodia after they were lured by agents with the promise of lucrative employment.
81. Which of the following possibilities can be TRUE according to the above
situation?
a. 21 Malaysians rescued from human traffickers in Cambodia and Laos returned home.
b. Agents offered the Indian workers well-paying job opportunities in the information
technology sector that turned out to be fallacious.
c. Efforts by the Indian missions in Myanmar and Thailand facilitated the rescue of 32 of
the victims from captivity and forced labour in Myanmar.

101

and c
(b) The Protector General of Emigrants(PGE) is the registering authority and has been
permitted to issue registration certificates to recruiting agents who provide jobs abroad in
line with the Emigration Act, 1983; it's the authority responsible for protecting the interest of
Indian workers going abroad.
82. Which of the following roles can be the role/roles of PGE, as expressed in the
above statement?
a. To protect and aid with his advice all intending emigrants and emigrants.
b. Inquire into the treatment received by emigrants during their voyage or journey to,
and during the period of their residence in the country to which they emigrated.
c. Aid and advise, so far as he reasonably can, immigrants who have come to India.

and c
(c) In a bid to ease the process of emigration and ensure that unsuspecting labourers do not
fall prey to dubious recruitment claims, the ministry of external affairs has set up an online
portal, eMigrate, to facilitate safe and legal migration.
83. Which of the following possible benefits of eMigrate portal could be there?
a. There will be accountability on the part of recruitment agent to ensure the safety of
the worker.
b. In case of any grievances by the emigrant, he/she can register the same in the
eMigrate website.
c. The portal will work through Registered Recruitment Agents and Registered Foreign
Employers.

102

and c
(d) Also, in 2019, a case was registered against a Mangaluru-based agent for swindling
around 34 youths from Dakshina Kannada by assuring them jobs in Kuwait; the death of
Indian workers in Qatar is another case in point.
84. Which of the following statements can be TRUE according to the above
statement?
a. The Mangaluru-based agent venally took some amount as a service charge from
each of the 34 victims and also some amount for medical check-ups.
b. For the victims of the Kuwait job fraud case, justice has been eluding them even after
three years of filing a case against recruiters.
c. The Mangaluru-based agent lured those 34 youths by giving each of them a huge
lump sum.
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only c D. Only b and c E. None of a, b and c
(e) The plight of Indian labourers working abroad under exploitative conditions has long
been a matter of concern.
85. Which of the following statements about Indian labourers, can be made according
to the above statement?
a. Labourers even after the legal framework and improvement frequently wind up living
in squeezed work camps lacking offices and experiencing unforgiving working
conditions, where they cannot partake in social and cultural exercises.
b. The states where migrant labourers reside in the Gulf consistently neglect to hold fast
to the International Labor Organization’s declaration on Fundamental Principles and

103
Rights at Work, in particular, the privilege or opportunity of affiliation and the privilege
to aggregate bartering (for example for better wages or benefits).
c. The poor incompetent and semi-gifted work vagrants frequently put their life and
family investment funds at stake to move to Gulf nations but they are misused by the
one who gave jobs just as the businesses from multiple points of view, for example,
visa retaining, disavowal of guaranteed occupation or compensation and exploitation.

and c
(f) This is a welcome move; but challenges remain; countless illegal recruitment agents who
are not registered with the PGE continue to operate under the radar.
86. Which of the following would be the author's suggestion(s) to the workers,
according to the challenge mentioned in the above statement?
a. Always deal with a registered Recruiting Agent; only then will your rights be
protected.
b. Whether a Recruiting Agent is registered or not can be checked on the E-migrate
portal; you should always check before getting yourself fully involved.
c. Some illegal recruiters might advice you to take medical examinations without even
presenting a proof that a valid job order or employment contract is available for you.
This is a big no-no because in order for you to work abroad, a valid job order from a
licensed recruitment agency is required.

and c
(g) Workers — migrants — availing of the services of non-registered agents often face
problems like _______________________________________.
87. Which of the following problems can be chosen to fill in the blank in the above
statement?
a. nonremittal of remuneration

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b. sequestration of key documents

c. physical and mental maltreatment and bootlegging

and c

A. b a c d
B. e d h g
C. a d g i
D. c e f d
PARAJUMBLE Based On Deriving Words and Idioms
paragraph.
The two bold statements are two consecutive statements in the entire arrangement.
(a) Cleaned that corner yet? Dusted those books? Hung up lights? Made some sweets?
Bought the gifts? Forgot that one, didn’t you, buying diyas in time and then soaking them
and drying them, just like your parents did, to save up on precious oil?
(b) It’s that time of the year again, when everywhere you turn, you are reminded of things
that you could, would, should do.

105
(c) No one expects us to but who else is going to get onto the kitchen counter and clean the
grease off the chimney, unless the sulking help can spare the time?
(d) Your husband and children perhaps go through life, certainly your life, not noticing things
like that.
(e) While the world, or rather their male counterparts sleep, women are at work making
festivals — including this one — happen.
(f) Yes, it is Diwali, and beyond those twinkling lights, there hides the well-known secret.
(g) Who else will feel the hurt when your son turns around and asks, “You didn’t make
sweets again this year?”
(h) As per the survey, nearly half of all women in the US experienced heightened stress
during the holidays, at risk to the health of their minds, not to speak bodies.
(i) And finally no one expects us to, but when all the photos pop up on your
WhatsApp groups of well-dressed, smiling families, you better have cajoled, pleaded,
run around, made the effort with your own for that perfect shot.
(j) A survey by the American Psychological Association tells us women bear the brunt
of festivals.
(a) Cleaned that corner yet? Dusted those books? Hung up lights? Made some sweets?
Bought the gifts? Forgot that one, didn’t you, buying diyas in time and then soaking them
and drying them, just like your parents did, to save up on precious oil?
89. Which of the following WORDS can contextually be derived from the above
statement?
a. undertaking
b. checklist
c. concluded

106

and c
(b) It’s that time of the year again, when everywhere you turn, you are reminded of things
that you could, would, should do.
90. Which of the following PHRASES/IDIOMS can contextually be derived from the
above statement?
a. bring/call to mind
b. jog someone's memory
c. give someone a cue

and c
(c) No one expects us to but who else is going to get onto the kitchen counter and clean the
grease off the chimney, unless the sulking help can spare the time?
above statement?
a. save someone's bacon

b. muck in with
c. be of service to

and c
(d) Your husband and children perhaps go through life, certainly your life, not noticing things
like that.

107
above statement?
a. let something ride

b. fall/slip through the cracks
c. put something behind you

and c
(e) While the world, or rather their male counterparts sleep, women are at work making
festivals — including this one — happen.
93. Which of the following WORDS can contextually be derived from the above
statement?
a. relentless
b. keep an eye on
c. purposeful

and c

A. b a c d
B. e d h g
C. a d g i
D. c e f d

108
paragraph.
(a) While literature and culture were fixated by what was then believed to be a quirk of
nature, the doppelgänger, history shows, often served nefarious purposes and had evil
associations.
(b) It is on the passport; it is how criminals are identified in a line-up; or how old friends
recognise each other on the street after years; a person’s face is inextricably tangled up with
his or her identity and identification.
(c) Underpinning it all is the assurance that one’s looks and the Self are unique; human
beings, consequently, have been worshippers of individuality, the latter feted as a
manifestation of autonomy and agency.
(d) The excitement with the look-alike has now been renewed with science’s claim that two
completely unrelated individuals may look deceptively similar.
(e) Yet, history and culture have also been ________ — sometimes perversely — with the
doppelgänger; the look-alike has ________ the popular ________ for millennia.
(f) It is the subject of one of the oldest known works of literature, Gilgamesh; it has also
inspired such playwrights, poets and novelists as Shakespeare, Shelley, Poe and Conrad.
(g) The answer, science says, lies in their DNA; a new study published in the journal, Cell
Reports, claims that unrelated look-alikes may share more than just facial features.
(h) The doppelgängers not only shared similarities in DNA but were genetically predisposed
to certain lifestyle traits, such as smoking habits as well as education levels.
(i) The study used facial recognition algorithms, genetic testing and questionnaires on daily
life and behaviour to identify similarities between 32 pairs of look-alikes.

109
(j) The researchers ran the facial profiles of the participants through three different facial
recognition algorithms; each algorithm recognised the same 16 pairs from this set as
‘identical twins’.
(doppelgänger - a biologically unrelated look-alike, or a double, of a living person.)
(a) While literature and culture were fixated by what was then believed to be a quirk of
nature, the doppelgänger, history shows, often served nefarious purposes and had evil
associations.
95. Which of the following statements can justify the phrase - 'doppelgänger often
served nefarious purposes'?
a. A doppelgänger was often portrayed as a ghostly or paranormal phenomenon and

usually seen as a harbinger of bad luck.
b. The word "doppelgänger" is often used in a more general and neutral sense, and in
slang, to describe any person who physically resembles another person.
c. Richard Anthony Jones spent 17 years in prison for a crime he says was committed
by his doppelganger to ruin his life.

and c
(b) It is on the passport; it is how criminals are identified in a line-up; or how old friends
recognise each other on the street after years; a person’s face is inextricably tangled up with
his or her identity and identification.
a. All human faces are unique and contribute to individual identity.

b. The face is the "organ of emotion," and we constantly read facial expressions to
understand what others are feeling.
c. When an entire person is visible, we rely strongly on the face for identification.

110

and c
(c) Underpinning it all is the assurance that one’s looks and the Self are unique; human
beings, consequently, have been worshippers of individuality, the latter feted as a
manifestation of autonomy and agency.
97. Which of the following statements can be made on 'individuality', as expressed in

the above statement?
a. An individualist does not necessarily follow one particular philosophy; he may create
an amalgamation of elements of many philosophies, based on personal interests in
particular aspects that he finds of use.
b. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and to value
independence and self-reliance.
c. The different experience of every individual creates his/her own unique personality
and way of understanding the world; so even though there is only one context, one
sentence, every individual will have his/ her own different interpretation.

and c
(d) The excitement with the look-alike has now been renewed with science’s claim that two
completely unrelated individuals may look deceptively similar.
98. Which of the following statements is/are CORRECT, according to the above
statement?
a. It is very likely that two human can look very similar, possibly even identical, despite
the fact that they will never be genetically identical.

111
b. Identical twins are thought of by people as being literally identical, but this is not the
case; identical twins could indeed be genetically different.
c. Genes that have been linked to face structure vary more than DNA in other regions of
the body; this suggests that the forces of evolution have selected for facial diversity,
perhaps to make individuals more recognizable to other people, the researchers say.
A. Only a B. Only a and c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
(e) Yet, history and culture have also been ________ — sometimes perversely — with the
doppelgänger; the look-alike has ________ the popular ________ for millennia.
99. Which of the following combinations of words can most appropriately fit in the
a. fascinated, gripped, imagination

b. enchanted, clasped, vision
c. engrossed, clenched, curiosity

and c

A. b a c d
B. e d h g
C. a d g i
D. c e f d

112
Direction(101-104): Four statements are given below, labelled A, B, C and D, among

these, three statements are logically connected. From the given options, choose the
option that does not fit into the theme of the passage.
You're now given three statements. You've to replace the odd statement with a
statement / statements from the three statements given, that is/are in line with the
other three statements.
101.
A. “Embrace yourself as you evolve. That’s real self-confidence.” The wise words came from
my sister as she stopped colouring her hair and let those silver streaks glisten in her DPs
across social media platforms.
B. You are under no obligation to be the same person you were a year, a month, or even 15
minutes ago. You have the right to undergo development.
C. The act of accepting yourself and all your personality traits exactly as they are is very
important; it means recognizing that your value goes beyond your personal attributes and
actions.
D. If you stay in the safety of your complacency without a notion as to what’s happening
around you, your safety zone can become a danger zone overnight. Changes are occurring
all around you that can make your skills and competencies obsolete.
102. Which of the following statements can replace the odd statement in the above
context?
a. Sometimes negativity can cloud our judgment and willingness to try new things,
limiting time for self-exploration; by accepting what makes you individual, you’re
creating a space for discovery to explore interests that, otherwise, you may have not
given time to.

113
b. You must practice self-compassion by accepting and forgiving mistakes made by

yourself and those around you; this means, being compassionate towards others and
understanding that everyone’s life has challenges and struggles, including your own.
c. Conditioning your brain promotes awareness and increases functionality. You can
transform your habits by exercising your mind. Brain conditioning increases
resilience, meaning the challenges we face in life and our ability to overcome them.

and c
103.
A. During the early days of the pandemic, the Union government had announced an
emergency credit line guarantee scheme designed to help micro, small and medium
enterprises in distress.
B. Late payments affect the cash cycle and may cause companies to find themselves
unable to pay their own bills from vendors and suppliers. To reduce cash flow problems, the
organization followed up with late customers on a timely basis, and enforced the late
payment terms written into contracts.
C. Since leasing supplies, equipment, and real estate usually ends up being more expensive
than buying, doing so may seem counterintuitive to someone who is only paying attention to
the bottom line, or your income after expenses are paid off. By leasing, you pay in small
increments, which helps improve cash flow.
D. Prices rise, which means that one unit of money buys fewer goods and services. This
loss of purchasing power impacts the cost of living for the common public which ultimately
leads to a deceleration in economic growth.

114
context?
a. The more promptly you send out invoices, the quicker you’ll get paid. And, in turn,
you’ll benefit from healthier cash flow. If invoicing is consistently lagging, it may be
time to invest in accounting management software.
b. MSMEs were provided credit facilities up to a maximum of 20 per cent of their
outstanding debt. Subsequently, the government enhanced the scheme, expanding
its scope in order to ensure greater fund flows into the economy.
c. According to data furnished by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company,
16.22 lakh loans have turned bad. In value terms, this works out to Rs 11,893 crore.
This implies that among the firms that availed the ECLGS facility, it is the relatively
smaller firms that are under stress and have not been able to meet their obligations.

and c
Direction(105-109): Four statements are given below, labelled A, B, C and D, among

these, three statements are logically connected. From the given options, choose the
option that does not fit into the theme of the passage.
You're now given three statements. You've to replace the odd statement with a
statement / statements from the three statements given, that is/are in line with the
other three statements.
105.
A. “Embrace yourself as you evolve. That’s real self-confidence.” The wise words came from
my sister as she stopped colouring her hair and let those silver streaks glisten in her DPs
across social media platforms.
B. You are under no obligation to be the same person you were a year, a month, or even 15
minutes ago. You have the right to undergo development.

115
C. The act of accepting yourself and all your personality traits exactly as they are is very
important; it means recognizing that your value goes beyond your personal attributes and
actions.
D. If you stay in the safety of your complacency without a notion as to what’s happening
around you, your safety zone can become a danger zone overnight. Changes are occurring
all around you that can make your skills and competencies obsolete.
context?
a. Sometimes negativity can cloud our judgment and willingness to try new things,
limiting time for self-exploration; by accepting what makes you individual, you’re
creating a space for discovery to explore interests that, otherwise, you may have not
given time to.
b. You must practice self-compassion by accepting and forgiving mistakes made by
yourself and those around you; this means, being compassionate towards others and
understanding that everyone’s life has challenges and struggles, including your own.
c. Conditioning your brain promotes awareness and increases functionality. You can
transform your habits by exercising your mind. Brain conditioning increases
resilience, meaning the challenges we face in life and our ability to overcome them.

and c
107.
A. During the early days of the pandemic, the Union government had announced an
emergency credit line guarantee scheme designed to help micro, small and medium
enterprises in distress.
B. Late payments affect the cash cycle and may cause companies to find themselves
unable to pay their own bills from vendors and suppliers. To reduce cash flow problems, the

116
organization followed up with late customers on a timely basis, and enforced the late
payment terms written into contracts.
C. Since leasing supplies, equipment, and real estate usually ends up being more expensive
than buying, doing so may seem counterintuitive to someone who is only paying attention to
the bottom line, or your income after expenses are paid off. By leasing, you pay in small
increments, which helps improve cash flow.
D. Prices rise, which means that one unit of money buys fewer goods and services. This
loss of purchasing power impacts the cost of living for the common public which ultimately
leads to a deceleration in economic growth.
context?
a. The more promptly you send out invoices, the quicker you’ll get paid. And, in turn,
you’ll benefit from healthier cash flow. If invoicing is consistently lagging, it may be
time to invest in accounting management software.
b. MSMEs were provided credit facilities up to a maximum of 20 per cent of their
outstanding debt. Subsequently, the government enhanced the scheme, expanding
its scope in order to ensure greater fund flows into the economy.
c. According to data furnished by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company,
16.22 lakh loans have turned bad. In value terms, this works out to Rs 11,893 crore.
This implies that among the firms that availed the ECLGS facility, it is the relatively
smaller firms that are under stress and have not been able to meet their obligations.

and c

117
ANSWER
1.Ans. (d)
Sol. The correct sequence of the given sentences is DEBAC.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
2.Ans. (c)
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
3.Ans. (a)
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
4.Ans. (b)
Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
5.Ans. (d)
6.Ans. (e)
Sol. The correct sequence of the given sentences is EADBC.
Hence, option (e) is the right answer choice.
7.Ans. (e)
8.Ans. (b)
9.Ans. (d)

118
10. Ans. (b)

11.Ans. (e)
Sol. The correct sequence of the given sentence is CEABD.
12.Ans. (c)
13. Ans. (c)

14.Ans. (b)
15.Ans. (a)
16. Ans. (e)

Sol. The correct sequence of the given sentence is DEABC.
17. Ans. (c)

18.Ans. (b)
19.Ans. (b)

119
20.Ans. (a)
21.(Answer - D. e
The correct arrangement is -
f a c e d b)
22.(Answer - C. a c e)
23.(Answer - A. d b)
24.(Answer - C. a
c f d a e b)
25.(Answer - B. d a e)
26.(Answer - D. e b)
27.(Answer - B. d
b f a d e c)
28.(Answer - C. a d e)
29.(Answer - C. e c)
30.(Answer - B. b e

120
e f c d a b)
31.(Answer - C. c d a)
32.(Answer - C. d f)
33.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
34.(Answer - D. e d b)
35.(Answer - C. f c)
36.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
38. (Answer - C. f c)
39.(Answer - A. e a
f b d a g c e )

121
40.(Answer - C. d a g)
41.(Answer - B. g f)
42.(Answer - B. a e
e d f b c a )
43.(Answer - D. e d f)
44.(Answer - A. b c)
45.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
47.(Answer - C. f c)
48. (Answer - A. e a
f b d a g c e )
49. (Answer - C. d a g)

122
50. (Answer - B. g f)
51.A
Solution: The correct arrangement: EAFCBD
52.D
53.C
54.B
55.D
Solution:The correct arrangement: EAFCBD
56.(Answer - D. c
c f b a e d)
57.(Answer - B. d)
58.(Answer - C. e)
59.(Answer - C. e)
60. (Answer - B. f)
Refer to - do its competitors lack energy and imagination to rid themselves of dirt?
Hence, compulsion and vision are suggestive of energy and imagination respectively.

123
compulsion - an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way.

vision - the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.
b - Incorrect.
wherewithal - financial support.
No such thing is mentioned.)
a and b are actually the same.

And, of course the fact that Indore has retained its ‘cleanest city’ tag for six years in a
row proves that India has a lot to learn about cleanliness from Indore.
c - Incorrect. It's irrelevant here.)
factual / revealing - informative.
evaluative - based on or relating to an assessment to form an idea of the value of

something.
asserting - declarative.
didactic - intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

constructional - relating to the creation or arrangement of something abstract.)
b - Incorrect.
Because, it's nowhere written that Indore’s collectivized approach and enthusiasm
can't be matched.
impracticable - impossible in practice to do or carry out.
a and c are absolutely correct.

124
emulate - to reproduce or copy or match with.)
Of course!
The figure was a meagre 73 in 2016, the first year of the survey. And this year, it's
4000.
Hence, the sample size of the survey is impressive and there has been a significant
upsurge in the number of entrants in this year’s assessment.
entrant - participant.
b - Incorrect. How can this statement be concluded?! )
66.(Answer - C. a d h g
b c e f a d h g
67.(Answer - A. A
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that according to statements B, C
and D, a Hindu marriage is a sacramental bond.
sacrament - a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace.
But, according to statement A, a Hindu marriage is a CONTRACT.)
Only a and c are viewing a Hindu marriage as a sacramental union.
b - Incorrect. It's viewing a Hindu marriage as a contract.)

125
69.(Answer - C. C
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, B and D are
talking about the EC in a negative tone.
But, statement C is talking about the EC positively.
dispensation - a political, religious, or social system prevailing at a particular time.

appendage - a thing that is added or attached to something larger or more important.)
70.(Answer - C. Only c
b is talking about the EC positively.
a - Incorrect. It's neither negative nor positive.)
a - Correct. Of course!
Refer to - Reservations for economically weaker sections(EWS) exclude the scheduled
castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes….
c - Correct.
Absolutely!
There are two criteria. One is - economic and the other one is caste-based.
One has to be economically backward as well as a person from the general category
to fall under this category.
b - Incorrect. It's nonspecific.

'economically backward' is nonspecific.)
All these statements are saying that - Equality cannot be calculated by means of
sums and monetary factors.
Because, the three factors in the options aren't just about financial factors.

126
Facing discrimination and getting unfair treatments don't always depend on

someone's financial status.)
b - Incorrect. How can it be a problem?
Only a and c are correct.)
impoverished / penurious / indigent - poor.
presiding / ascendant - dominant.
stratum / echelon - caste or social class.)
75.(Answer - A. b c e f
b c e f a d h i g
a - Correct.
Parliamentary debates indirectly contribute to the quality of democratic decisions.
The very existence of debates can be seen as a system for monitoring elected
officials.
b - Correct.
Debates help to implement the accountability process, forcing ministers to speak, to
listen to criticisms and to answer them.
c - Correct.
The burden of the courts while interpreting or implementing the laws is less. They
have a clear picture of the purpose behind the making of a particular law and what the
legislature thought while making the law.)

127
77.(Answer - B. Only c
a - Incorrect. The phrase - Throughout the world, people are free to speak their minds
- is CONTRADICTORY.
b - Incorrect. It's CONTRADICTORY too.

'cancel culture' means stifling of free speech. If it's questionable at best, then the fact
that freedom of speech is an endangered creature the world over is
CONTRADICTORY.
c - Correct.
Absolutely!)
momentous - significant.
Only a and b are correct because they show why the ‘art’ of disagreeing well is so
important.
take issue - to disagree.
c - Incorrect. It's absolutely irrelevant.)
79.(Answer - C. Only c
a and b are both CONTRADICTORY.
Only c does justice to the phrase - The Lok Sabha today may seem to manifest a shoddy
parody of this tradition
shoddy - badly made or done.

parody - imitation.
tradition - here it's referred to healthy debates.)

128
80.(Answer - A. b c e f
b c e f a d g
Since, it's said that India rescued around 130 Indian workers from Myanmar, Laos and
Cambodia after they were lured by agents with the promise of lucrative employment,
it can be said that agents offered the Indian workers well-paying job opportunities in
the information technology sector that turned out to be fake.
fallacious - fake.
Also, it can be said that efforts by the Indian missions in Myanmar and Thailand
facilitated the rescue of 32 of the victims from captivity and forced labour in Myanmar.
It's absolutely a possibility.
a - Incorrect.
The statement is talking about rescuing Indians, not Malaysians.)
Refer to - it's the authority responsible for protecting the interest of Indian workers going
abroad.
Hence, a and b are absolutely correct.
c - Incorrect. PGE is about emigrants, not immigrants.
immigrant - a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

emigrant - a person who leaves their own country in order to settle permanently in another.)
c - Incorrect. It might be one of its working features, certainly not a a benefit.

129
a and b - Correct.
Refer to - the ministry of external affairs has set up an online portal, eMigrate, to facilitate
safe and legal migration.
Hence, both these possible benefits could be there.)
84.(Answer - A. Only a
b - Incorrect. There is not enough information to call this fact TRUE. We don't know
what is the progress of that case.
a - Correct.
swindle around - to get money dishonestly from someone by deceiving or cheating them.
c - Incorrect. He took money. He didn't give.)
All these statements are talking about the exploitation, plight and unfair treatments of
the workers working abroad.
vagrant - a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place
and lives by begging.)
All these can be absolutely valid suggestions, according to the tone and theme in the
above statement.)
nonremittal - non-payment.
remuneration - salary.
sequestration - the action of taking or seizing someone's property with authority; seizure;
confiscation.

130
bootlegging - the illegal manufacture, distribution, or sale of goods, especially alcohol.)
88.(Answer - C. a d g i
e c b f a d g i h
undertaking - task; a piece of work to be done or undertaken.
True. The statement talked about all the work to be done.
checklist - a list of items required, things to be done, or points to be considered, used as a

reminder.
No task is concluded yet. Hence, this word can't be derived.)
All these idioms mean - to remind or bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the
conscious mind.)
the sulking help - the silent help.

Here, it's referred to the woman in the house.
Save someone's bacon - rescue or help someone out from difficulty.
be of service to - to be helpful.
muck in with - share tasks or facilities with other people on an equal basis.)

131
let sth ride - overlook sth and not do anything about it.
fall/slip through the cracks - to not be noticed.
put sth behind you - If you put a bad experience or your own bad behavior behind you, you
do not let it affect your life now.)
relentless - persistent.
Women are putting efforts persistently.
purposeful - committed.
Women make festivals happen. That means they're committed.
keep an eye on - take care of.

Women take care of the festivals.)
b a f e c d g i j h
nefarious - evil or wicked or criminal.
Hence, a and c are correct.
a - Correct. A doppelgänger was portrayed as a ghostly or paranormal phenomenon

and usually seen as a harbinger of bad luck.
That means, it has some evil associations.
c - Correct. It talks about a criminal purpose.

132
b - Incorrect. It is not talking about anything negative.)
Refer to - a person’s face is inextricably tangled up with his or her identity and identification.
Hence, a and c are absolutely correct.
b - Incorrect. It says - facial expressions to understand what others are feeling.

But, we are talking about identification, not feelings.)
a and b - Correct.
Refer to - individuality, the latter feted as a manifestation of autonomy and agency.
c - Correct.
Refer to - human beings, consequently, have been worshippers of individuality,)
b - Incorrect.
It's talking about identical twins having genetic differences, which is out of the
context.
c - Incorrect. It kind of has a contradictory tone.
It's attaching importance to facial diversity, which is not the actual point in the above
statement.)
fascinate / engross / enchant - attract the strong attention and interest of (someone).
grip / clasp / clench - take and keep a firm hold of; grasp tightly.)

133
b c e f a d g i j h
101.(Answer - D. D
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, B and C are
talking about accepting yourself the way you are. They are talking about embracing
the natural changes and being happy with whatever you are.
But, D is talking about a different aspect. It says that complacency or self-satisfaction

is dangerous. One must not be fully satisfied with himself or herself. If changes are
required, one must make those changes.)
a and b are talking about self-acceptance.

Accepting your mistakes is also self-acceptance.
c - Incorrect. It's talking about a different thing. Brain conditioning and

self-acceptance aren't two exactly the same things.)
103.(Answer - D. D
talking about easing the cash flow or increasing the cash flow.
While D is talking about inflation.)
a and b are talking about easing or increasing cash flow.
c - Incorrect. It's out of context.)
105. (Answer - D. D

134
talking about accepting yourself the way you are. They are talking about embracing
the natural changes and being happy with whatever you are.
But, D is talking about a different aspect. It says that complacency or self-satisfaction

is dangerous. One must not be fully satisfied with himself or herself. If changes are
required, one must make those changes.)
a and b are talking about self-acceptance.

Accepting your mistakes is also self-acceptance.
c - Incorrect. It's talking about a different thing. Brain conditioning and

self-acceptance aren't two exactly the same things.)
107.(Answer - D. D
talking about easing the cash flow or increasing the cash flow.
While D is talking about inflation.)
a and b are talking about easing or increasing cash flow.
c - Incorrect. It's out of context.)

135
CHAPTER 4 - FILLERS
Direction(1-5): In each of the following questions a sentence is given with some of its
part missing and it's represented by a blank. Select the best option(s) to make the
sentence complete and coherent. If no option fits in the blank, choose (E) as your
answer.
1. With the passing away of Rita Mukherjee, former chief producer of the iconic Central
English Features Unit of DD AIR, the city of Delhi and the portals of All India Radio have lost
an officer of meticulous functioning, dynamic principles and impeccable radio presentations.
She founded the famous Yuva Vani programme that represented the voice of youth. She
trained a number of announcers and presenters to believe that radio programmes are
essential for a well-functioning, well-informed society. ____________________________.
a. They knit together great minds

b. They are a tool of pedagogy for the masses
c. They are the harbingers of a retrograde culture

and c
2. The southwest monsoon has had a sputtering start despite an onset three days ahead of
schedule. All-India rainfall during June 1-19 has been 8 per cent below the normal average
for this period. Moreover, even the regions covered by the monsoon have seen skewed
precipitation. _________________________________.
a. Rainfall has been 22 per cent deficient in South Peninsular India, while it is 50-134
per cent in excess in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and north
Bengal.
b. Northeastern regions and the windward side of the Western ghats experience an
average of 400 cm of annual rainfall.
c. Maharashtra recorded 161% excess rainfall; Telangana 148%; Karnataka 128% and
Gujarat recorded 112% excess monsoon rain, while on the other hand Delhi recorded
a deficit of 43% and Tripura a shortage of 69%.

136

and c
3. Rainfall deficiency has already reduced from 32 per cent till June 15. Kharif plantings
usually pick up only after mid-June and peak in July. Also, current water levels in major
reservoirs are 4.9 per cent higher than a year ago and 32.9 per cent above the last 10 years’
average for this time. A slow start — the monsoon season extends from June to September,
with nearly 62 per cent of the rainfall received during the two middle months — can even be
a blessing. ____________________________________.
a. The kharif crop suffered both moisture stress during the vegetative growth stage and
inundation at harvesting time.
b. It gives additional time for the government and farm input companies to plan
movement and placement of seeds, fertilisers and crop protection chemicals.
c. This may matter more in today’s situation, where the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s
Covid lockdowns have caused supply disruptions and delays in imports, including of
fertilisers and agro-chemical intermediates.
A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
4. There can be no justification for protests against the new Agnipath recruitment process
veering, as they have done in several states, to violence, arson and vandalism. The
announcement that the age limit will be relaxed from 21 to 23 years as a one-time exception
for the first batch of recruits is welcome. But, the protests against Agnipath frame the
unemployment crisis that has been deepening in the country.
______________________________
a. It is the responsibility of all political parties, apart from local administrations and police
forces, to work towards the return of calm.
b. It is the task of political communication now to ensure that a reassuring message
reaches the young who are taking to the streets.
c. The aftermath carries a cautionary note — something as important as a new policy of
recruitment for the armed forces should have been more thought-through, keeping in
mind not just the jobless numbers in the country, but also the freeze on recruitment
over the last two years.

137

and c
5. On Tuesday, the BSE Sensex ended the day at 52,693, down 0.3 per cent. Since the
beginning of this year, the Sensex has fallen by around 11 per cent. India markets are not an
outlier. Around the world, equity markets have witnessed a sell-off.
______________________________
a. The Indian currency has weakened against the dollar; on Monday, the rupee
breached the 78 mark for the first time, touching an all-time low of 78.29 against the
dollar.
b. The S&P 500 is down around 22 per cent from its January levels.
c. European stock indices have witnessed weakness, as have Asian markets.

and c
Direction(6-9): In each of the questions below, two sentences are given with one blank
in each of them. The sentences are then followed by some words. You've to choose
the word that can fit in both the blanks contextually and grammatically.
6.
I. The influx of people from Spanish-speaking states had allowed the party to gain
________.
II. This is a huge subject that covers much ________ and will see a good many
proposals.
a. ground
b. land
c. basis
A. Only b B. Only a and c C. Only a D. Only b and c E. All a, b and c

138
7.
I. Instead of getting angry and playing into his _______, she countered him.
II. They are taking the law into their own ________.
a. traps
b. hands
c. control
A. Only b B. Only a and c C. Only a D. Only b and c E. All a, b and c
8.
I. I use paint as a _______ for my ideas.
II. The four-wheeled _______ was sent skidding across the road.
a. motor
b. vehicle
c. medium
A. Only b B. Only a and c C. Only a D. Only c E. All a, b and c
9.
I. The place is a ________ of different communities, with nearly half of them
“non-Bengalis”.
II. Today's Europe is a rich ________ of cultures, ethnicities, and religions.
a. mosaic
b. blend
c. assortment
A. Only b B. Only a and b C. Only a D. Only c E. All a, b and c

139
Directions(10-11): The following question has THREE blanks. In each blank a

preposition has been omitted. Choose the set of prepositions for each blank that best
fits in the context of the sentence.
10. The twin spikes _____ unemployment rate, as surveyed _____ CMIE, and daily
confirmed coronavirus cases pose tough choices _____ governments.
A. with, for, to
B. in, by, for
C. for, for, to
D. in, through, with
11. Out _____ work, without a secure roof _____ their heads, many made a hard journey
_____ their own villages.
A. of, over, to
B. by, above, for
C. for, across, into
D. with, above, in
Directions(12-15): In each of the following questions a short passage is given with

one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best
out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent
(coherent means logically complete and sound).
12. Some would argue that the chief minister's decision to block the governor of the state on
Twitter is mere grandstanding, with little real-world effects, and hence unimportant in the
larger scheme of things. But it must be remembered that ___________________________

140
a. the constitutional relationship between a chief minister and the governor is bound by
propriety and decorum.
b. even by the hyper-partisan standards of Twitter, a chief minister of a state blocking
the governor on a social media platform is bad form.
c. the use of social media platforms by politicians hasn't eroded the common or middle
ground of public spheres.
A. Only a and b B. Only c C. Only b D. Only a E. All a, b and c
13. As with last year, the twin challenges this time were offering vital income support to poor
and vulnerable households _______________________, while stimulating broad-based
recovery in growth.
a. which have suffered greatly during the pandemic

b. which are intimately connected
c. which signifies almost certain hardship
A. Only a and b B. Only c C. Only a D. Only a and c E. All a, b and c
14. The Assembly, which met in the morning adjourned abruptly, as the speaker, A P Kurian,
a motion for whose removal was listed first on the agenda, ________________________.
a. resigned to join the ranks of the opposition

b. convened immediately a meeting board to discuss his own intention to step down
c. made the dramatic announcement of his abdication
15. While the talks on a no-war pact are not making any headway, India and Pakistan
agreed to set up a joint commission to tackle bilateral problems. The suggestion to set up a

141
joint commission was made by the PM when Pakistan Foreign Minister Agha Shahi met her.
Shahi accepted the proposal immediately. While ____________________________.
a. details about the composition of the commission are yet to be discussed by the two
governments
b. every detail of the constitution of the commission was discussed precisely between
the two countries
c. both India and Pakistan have joint commission arrangements
Phrase Fillers
Direction(16-22): In each question a sentence is given followed by a blank. You are

provided with three fragments a, b and c. You have to identify which PHRASE(s) can
carry forward the given sentence in the most logical way so as to make the sentence
coherent and contextually correct.
16. Actress must have no mouth,” Marilyn Monroe once wrote in her journal, about the
workings of 1950s’ Hollywood. The astuteness of the observation would surprise anyone
who knows of her only through Blonde, Andrew Dominik’s recent biopic. One of the most
controversial films of the year, Blonde keeps an obsessive focus on the abuse that Monroe
endured — at the hands of her mother, studio executives and politicians, colleagues and
lovers — and creates _________________________.
a. a portrait of a woman defined by trauma

b. a memoir of an actor as the victim
c. a monochromatic portrayal of a persecuted and hapless woman

and c

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17. Getting to watch live football after the dark days of the pandemic would have counted
among the pleasures and privileges of “normal” life, when the world opened up again.
Stadium football can be one of the most exhilarating communal experiences in sport, filled
with shared sighs and full-throated cheers. At Indonesia’s Kanjuruhan stadium, though,
police resorted to tear gas when a section of the crowd ran onto the pitch after their team
lost. One hundred and twenty-five lives were lost in a stampede that resulted from crowds
fleeing tear gas shells _________________________.
a. leading to chaos that exacerbated the situation further

b. leading to nervous panic that fanned the flames further
c. leading to absolute hue and cry that placated the situation further

and c
18. The authorities who proceeded to label the crowd “anarchic” and justified the use of tear
gas in what was a clear case of panicking by the stadium cops, must now be held
accountable for their handling of the difficult situation. FIFA specifically prohibits “firearms or
‘crowd control gas’ — carried or used” to maintain order at a game. Using tear gas is always
fraught within a stadium’s cauldron-like architecture, for
_________________________________
a. it might scare the crowds

b. it can raise spectres of the backing hordes being crushed and trampled
c. in the worst case scenario it can raise spectres of the backing hordes being poisoned

and c
19. On September 27, the Supreme Court enabled the live streaming of the hearing of
cases. The Court’s original decision of September 27, 2018, allowing the live telecast of
important proceedings paved the way for this outcome. The bench of the then Chief Justice
Dipak Misra, Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud had held that the

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live-streaming of court proceedings is in the public interest. The telecast, they pointed out,
will enliven judicial labour for the public at large __________________________.
a. to strengthen constitutional values

b. to reinforce democracy
c. to enfeeble citizenship

and c
20. Tickets were over-sold, but only fans of the home club were present at the stadium —
supporters of the rival club were kept out to avoid the possibility of confrontation. And still,
the police failed to step up to the challenge. Lessons learnt from previous tragedies like
Hillsborough, should have applied here. Crowd protocols in the future must necessitate
measures like ___________________________.
a. barricading players at the end of the match

b. having only one entry/exit point
c. dissuading anyone storming the field

and c
21. In India, half of all infrastructure projects are delayed, and one in four run over their
estimated budget. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes technology is the
__________________________.
a. solution to these perennial bottlenecks

b. panacea for these notorious constrictions
c. answer to these troubling explications

and c

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22. Fast-tracking projects will give India an advantage, especially with China still largely
closed to the outside world and companies increasingly adopting a China-plus-one policy —
finding other countries to expand in or source from — to diversify their businesses and
supply chains. Asia’s third-largest economy not only offers cheap labor, but also a talent pool
of largely English-speaking workers, even though ____________________________.
a. rickety infrastructure keeps many investors away

b. it is easier to have a flow of goods and manufactured components across the length
and breadth of the country
c. strengthening the logistics network is undemanding today
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. Only b E. All a, b and c
Phrase Fillers

provided with three fragments a, b and c. You have to identify which PHRASE(s) can
carry forward the given sentence in the most logical way so as to make the sentence
coherent and contextually correct.
23. Our society is in an unprecedented crisis. Religious polarisation threatens social

harmony. Although communalism and communal riots are nothing new, the present
onslaught of divisive politics has reduced citizens to being merely Hindus or Muslims.
Electoral democracy has led to a kind of majoritarian triumphalism that
____________________________.
a. runs contrary to the spirit of democracy

b. runs contrary to the spirit of fraternity
c. runs counter to the spirit of social justice

and c

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24. A seminal judgment delivered last week by a three-judge bench of the Indian Supreme
Court sparked hope in the Indian judiciary emerging as __________________. The Medical
Termination Pregnancy Act, 1971, permitted only certain categories of women the right to
undergo abortions, to the exclusion of unmarried women. The judgment expanded the scope
of the statute to allow all women the right to undergo abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy,
irrespective of their marital status.
a. a beacon of justice
b. a very good example of fair play
c. a beacon of bigotry

and c
25. As people in the US experience an erosion of trust by their SC, and continue to be
governed by a rigid Constitution, they could look towards India’s Constitution and judgments
of the Indian Supreme Court, such as the one delivered last week, to identify ways to
_________________________.
a. safely secure the autonomy of all its citizens

b. prioritise the personal liberty of all its citizens
c. safely mangle personal freedom of every citizen

and c
Direction(26-28): In each of the following questions a sentence is given with some of

its part missing and it's represented by a blank. Select the best option(s) to make the
answer.
26. So much of modern academic attention has been drawn to a fundamental question:
What is value? There are values in _________________________

146
a. the sense of moral values that underpin an individual’s ethical outlook

b. norms and rules determined by what a society holds dear
c. how value attaches itself to commodities

and c
27. With only 68 seats, Himachal Pradesh, where assembly elections have been announced
for November 12, is a small state. But the outcome is likely to resonate beyond the state’s
borders. The Himachal election marks the beginning of a crowded poll calender that will
culminate in the 2024 general election. Elections are due in Gujarat next, which will be
followed by assembly polls to at least nine states, among them Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana, over a year. In most of these states, as in
Himachal, the main contenders are the BJP and Congress, and the results in the hill state
______________________.
a. may have a bearing on electoral fortunes elsewhere

b. will be influenced by other polls in other states
c. may have a grip on electoral fortunes elsewhere
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
28. From the draft telecom bill to the proposed e-commerce rules to the personal data
protection bill and others, these new policy frameworks seek to regulate the physical
infrastructure that forms the backbone of Digital India, the platforms that dominate
________________________________.
a. all forms of digital interactions from communication to retail

b. the underlying payments channels that facilitate digital transactions
c. the management of the data generated by the digital transactions

and c

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Direction(29-32): In each of the following questions a sentence is given with some of

its part missing and it's represented by a blank. Select the best option(s) to make the
answer.
29. Over the last three decades, stakeholders at the international, regional and national
levels have discussed the labour rights violations in destination countries, particularly the
Gulf. However, _________________________________.
a. the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, especially those doing low-skill jobs, remain the
same
b. the media offered wide coverage of labour rights violations at many events
c. the lack of access to healthcare services and the absence of health service firewalls
for undocumented migrants created panic
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b D. Only a and c E. None of a, b and c
30. India was the world’s largest importer of arms in the period from 2017 to 2021, along
with Saudi Arabia. It accounts for 11 per cent of the total imports across the world, according
to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This is a huge financial burden, but
if a difficult neighbourhood makes it inevitable, manufacturing in India and buying from
Indian makers ___________________________.
a. is a sound strategic aim

b. will keep the money at home
c. will create delays in delivery, and significantly, lack of faith among the end users

and c
31. The Lothal site lay on a trade route between the Harappan cities in Sindh and the
Saurashtra peninsula, when Kutch was part of the Arabian Sea. Lothal flourished with
advanced technological marvels that initiated India’s rich maritime history, but declined
mysteriously. The evidence from Lothal suggests that the Harappans were highly disciplined

148
people who believed in orderliness, visible in the planning of towns and cities,
___________________________.
a. uniform system of weights and measures,

b. enforcement of trade regulations and efficient administration
c. standardization of goods and services to facilitate production

and c
32. Dholavira followed a strict plan, but one of its kind with multiple enclosures. The overall
plan has an acropolis or upper town, consisting of a massive “castle” located on the city’s
high point and an adjacent “bailey”; a middle town, separated from the acropolis by a huge
ceremonial ground; and a lower town, part of which was occupied by a series of reservoirs.
The principal building material was stone, although _____________________________.
a. sun-dried bricks were also used

b. houses, wells and drains were normally made of local sandstone
c. most of the buildings were made of gravestone
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
Directions(33-35): In each of the questions below, a sentence is given with two blanks
that indicate that some parts are missing. Identify the words that fit in the blanks to
make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct.
33. His record of 22 Grand Slam titles for a male player will not last forever, perhaps not
even for a year if the freakishly _________ genius from Serbia, Novak Djokovic, gets his
________ .
a. masterly, way
b. talented, manner
c. amateurish, path
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only a and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

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34. All-round improvement and _________ and positive results will definitely help change
the __________ of women’s cricket.
a. consistent, landscape
b. erratic, view
c. unwavering, prospect

and c
35. Every act that is allowed to go __________ and __________ emboldens the next.
a. unpunished, uncensured
b. uncorrected, unreprimanded
c. undisciplined, uncensored

and c

provided with three fragments I, II and III. You have to identify which
statement/statements can carry forward the given sentence in the most logical way so
as to make the sentence coherent and contextually correct.
36. On Tuesday, the Portuguese government announced that the country’s health minister,
Marta Temido, had resigned because _________________________.
a. she realised that she no longer had the conditions to remain in office
b. she didn't acknowledge responsibility for the death of a pregnant Indian tourist who
did not receive proper hospital care.
c. she wanted to direct attention to a principle that seems to have, more and more,
slipped out of the lexicon of those holding high office — accountability.

150

and c
37. On Wednesday, data released by the National Statistical Office showed that the Indian
economy grew at 13.5 per cent in the first quarter of the ongoing financial year. This
seemingly strong number which is driven by a favourable base effect — economic activities
were severely impacted by the Delta wave of the pandemic in the first quarter of the last
financial year — is, however, below expectations. In its most recent update, the Reserve
Bank of India had pegged growth for the quarter at 16.2 per cent.
_________________________
a. This implies that the central bank has been overestimating the growth momentum in
the economy.
b. This disaggregated data shows that value added by the agriculture sector grew at a
healthy 4.5 per cent in the first quarter, notwithstanding the impact of the heat wave.
c. Going forward, the unevenness of the monsoon could adversely impact this output.
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b D. Only a and c E. All a, b and c

38. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often emphasised the important role of jan bhagidari
(people’s participation) in solving critical problems and building a prosperous nation. His
words — “when 130-crore countrymen take one step ahead with a set goal and the
commitment to resolve, India moves 130 steps forward” — carry special resonance. The
Swachh Bharat Mission, Covid-19 vaccination drive and the recently-concluded Har Ghar
Tiranga campaign are examples of this synchrony between the government and citizens.
__________________________
a. When the two come together for a common mission, programmes have a great
chance of success.
b. This includes a transfer of Rs 500 directly into the bank account of the patient.

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c. The government has been working tirelessly to provide free diagnosis, free medicines
and other kinds of support to people who have been affected by the disease.
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
39. Any individual or organisation can register as Ni-kshay Mitra on the Ni-kshay 2.0 portal
to support people affected by the disease. The initiative intends to provide essential
nutritional and social support to people with TB and root out stigma and discrimination
against them. Few types of support are essential. _____________________________
a. A kit that contains appropriate food and supplements to take care of their nutritional
needs.
b. Support for additional lab-based diagnostic requirements.
c. Equipping the patients with vocational skills to help them join the workforce and live a
prosperous and productive life.

and c
40. At several points during the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II — which ended with her
death on September 8 — the very institution of the Crown was brought into question. For
progressives in Britain and beyond, it was the ultimate symbol of aristocracy and unearned
privilege; the tentpole that held up a class structure that was obsolete and obscene. Britain’s
longest-serving monarch transcended the limitations of her office by staying true to the best
principles of being the constitutional head of a democratic state.
_______________________________________
a. In doing so, she ensured that the Crown survived the post-War churn
b. In doing so, the crown continued to be a steady hand, a sort of over-arching spirit of a
nation, through the tectonic shifts in politics and society for the better part of a
century.
c. They were criticised by the Right for presiding over the end of the Empire.

and c

152

41. The disaggregated data shows that the consumer food price index rose to 7.62 per cent
in August, up from 6.69 per cent in July, with sharp increases seen in cereals, milk, fruits
and vegetables. As per analysts, while wheat prices are elevated due to the heat wave
which impacted output, the shortfall in rainfall across the Gangetic plain is expected to
adversely impact rice prices. ______________________
a. This would suggest that cereal inflation is likely to remain elevated in the near term.
b. Alongside these price pressures, it is equally worrying that core inflation which
excludes the volatile food and fuel components continues to remain elevated.
c. This latest data, which comes just a few weeks before the next meeting of the
monetary policy committee that is scheduled to be held at the end of this month, only
underlines the price convenience in the economy.

and c
42. The decision to opt out of the trade pillar comes at a time when the global economic
environment has turned sour. In its recent update of the world economic outlook, the
International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for global growth this year from 3.6 per
cent to 3.2 per cent. Alongside, it has also brought down its forecast for world trade in goods
and services to 4.1 per cent, as demand, especially in advanced economies, weakens with
central banks tightening policy to tackle surging inflation.
__________________________________
a. This slowdown in trade has already become visible in India’s trade statistics.
b. This framework, which seeks to address new challenges and “promote fair and
resilient trade”, offers member countries the option to not participate in all pillars.
c. While these are indeed unchallenging issues, apprehensions over the conditions
sought should not prevent the country from joining the trade pillar.
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b D. Only a and c E. All a, b and c

153
43. For most of us, our interactions with people from the Hijra and Kinnar community are
limited to such brief interludes at traffic signals, on trains, or when they visit our homes for
badhai. The Hijra community is thus hyper-visible, as no one can ignore them, while also
being invisible as no one thinks about them. But gradually the gears have started to shift.
The NALSA vs Union of India judgment of 2014 was a path-breaking reform to give equal
rights to the transgender community. __________________________
a. It talked about the self-determination of gender.

b. It talked about the prevention of discrimination in all spheres of life.
c. It spoke about affirmative action for the community.

and c
ANSWER
There must be a positive statement about the announcers and the presenters.
Hence, a and b are correct.
knit together - To fuse together.

pedagogy - the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or
theoretical concept.
c - Incorrect. It's negative.

retrograde - directed or moving backwards.
harbinger - a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.)
The last line - Moreover, even the regions covered by the monsoon have seen skewed
precipitation.
skewed - uneven.
precipitation - rainfall.

154
b - Incorrect. It's not showing any skewed precipitation. Rather, it shows an even
precipitation.)
3.(Answer - B. Only b
The last statement - A slow start — the monsoon season extends from June to September,
with nearly 62 per cent of the rainfall received during the two middle months — can even be
a blessing.
That 'blessing' is explained in option b.
a - Incorrect. It's negative. It can't be a blessing.
c - Incorrect. It's clearly irrelevant. This statement cannot be put in the blank
immediately after the last statement. It's not matching with the context directly.)
All these statements are contextually correct. And, also these statements correctly
express the tone of the author.
take to the streets - To bring some event onto the streets outside.)
The last line - Around the world, equity markets have witnessed a sell-off.
sell-off - a sale of shares, bonds, or commodities, especially one that causes a fall in price.
Hence, b and c are correct.
a - Incorrect. Indian currency is not an example of an equity market.)
6.(Answer - C. Only a
gain ground - to become popular.
ground - an area of knowledge or subject of discussion or thought.)

155
7.(Answer - A. Only b
play into someone's hands - act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an
advantage.
hands - Used in reference to the power to direct something.)
vehicle - i) A thing used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car,
lorry, or cart.
ii) A thing used to express, embody, or fulfil something.)
9.(Answer - B. Only a and b
mosaic / blend / assortment - mixture.
The word 'assortment' can't be chosen due to the article 'a' in the first sentence.)
10.(Answer - B. in, by, for)
11.(Answer - A. of, over, to
out of something - If you are out of something, you no longer have any of it.)
The statement must criticise the move by the chief minister to block the governor.
Hence, only a and b are perfectly right.
c - Incorrect. It's irrelevant and also contradictory.)
Only a can fit in the blank.
c - Incorrect. Grammatical error.

'signifies' is incorrect.

156
b - Incorrect. It doesn't make sense.)
14.(Answer - E. All a, b and c
There must be a negative statement.

All a, b and c are negative in tone.)
There must be a contradictory statement to the last statement as the statement starts
with 'while'.
Though Pakistan Foreign Minister Agha Shahi accepted the proposal immediately,
details about the composition of the commission are yet to be discussed by the two
governments.
b - Incorrect. It's contradictory.
c - Incorrect. It doesn't make sense.)
Clearly, Monroe was an abused and ill-treated woman.

hapless - unfortunate.
persecuted - ill-treated.
monochromatic - containing or using only one colour.
b - Incorrect.
The word memoir means - a historical account or biography written from personal
knowledge.
But, Blonde is a movie.)
exacerbate / fan the flames - aggravate.

hue and cry - chaos and noise.
placate - to calm.)

157
All these are possible devastating outcomes of the above situation.
horde - a large group of people.

spectre - something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.
trample - tread on and crush.)
Only positive phrases can come to the blank.

Refer to - The telecast, they pointed out, will enliven judicial labour for the public at
large
enfeeble - make weak or feeble.
reinforce - to strengthen.)
b - Incorrect. This is something which will act as a security threat.

dissuade - prevent.
storm - suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of force.)
panacea / answer - solution.
bottleneck / constriction - a situation that causes delay in a process or system.

Refer to - estimated budget.
This is referred to as a bottleneck.
explication - the process of analysing and developing an idea or principle in detail.

This word doesn't make sense.)

158
There must be a contradictory statement.

Hence, only a is correct.
b and c - Incorrect. They are positive and not contradictory.)
23.(Answer - D. All a, b and c)
beacon - a good example that gives people hope or encouragement.

bigotry - prejudice.)
mangle - to destroy.)
All these are relevant options.

underpin - support.)
may have a bearing - to affect or influence a decision.

Of course. That's what has been expressed in the above paragraph.

c - Incorrect.
have a grip on - to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently.
This phrase doesn't make sense here.)
28.(Answer - D. All a, b and c)
The phrase must talk about any problem workers are facing.
c - Incorrect. It doesn't fit here.)

159
The phrase must talk about benefits of manufacturing in India and buying from Indian
makers.
c - Incorrect. It's absolutely negative.)
All of these are positive aspects of Harappans. And these points justify that the
Harappans were highly disciplined people.)
b and c can't be connected by 'although'. Because, gravestone and sandstone are

also types of stones.)
get one's way (idiom) - To get or have what one wants; to have things done according to
one's personal preference or desires.
masterly - talented.
amateurish - done in an unskilful or inept way.)
unwavering / consistent - steady or stable.
landscape / prospect / view - the distinctive features of a sphere of activity.
erratic - inconsistent.)
unpunished / uncorrected / undisciplined - (of an offence or offender) not receiving any

punishment or penalty.
uncensured / unreprimanded - not subjected to blame or criticism.

160
uncensored - (of a report, film, etc.) not censored (= having had parts removed that are not
considered suitable for the public).)
b - Incorrect.
The phrase - 'she didn't acknowledge responsibility' is contradictory.
a and c are absolutely correct contextually.)

b - Incorrect.
'This disaggregated data' is nonspecific.
disaggregated - separated into its component parts.
c - Incorrect.
'this output' is incorrect and nonspecific.)
the two - the government and citizens.
b - Incorrect. 'This' is nonspecific.
c - Incorrect. 'the disease' is nonspecific and out of context.)
All these three are - types of support that are essential.)
Britain’s longest-serving monarch transcended the limitations of her office by staying

true to the best principles of being the constitutional head of a democratic state.
In doing so, she ensured that the Crown not only survived the post-War churn but
also continued to be a steady hand, a sort of over-arching spirit of a nation, through
the tectonic shifts in politics and society for the better part of a century.

161
c - Incorrect.
The phrase 'price convenience' is contradictory and absurd.
a and b - Correct.
cereal - a grain used for food, for example wheat, maize, or rye.
these price pressures - As per analysts, while wheat prices are elevated…)
This slowdown - the International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for global growth
this year from 3.6 per cent to 3.2 per cent.
And, Alongside, it has also brought down its forecast for world trade in goods and services
to 4.1 per cent, as demand, especially in advanced economies, weakens with central banks
tightening policy to tackle surging inflation.
b - Incorrect.
'This framework' is nonspecific.
c - Incorrect.
The phrase - While these are indeed unchallenging issues - is absurd.)
Refer to - The NALSA vs Union of India judgment of 2014 was a path-breaking reform to
give equal rights to the transgender community.
All these statements are talking about giving equal rights to the transgender
community.)

162
CHAPTER 5 - WORD REPLACEMENT

Direction (1-20): In each of the following questions given below, a sentence/sentences
is /are given with some bold words which may contain errors. Below each of them, a
table is given with two columns in which column ‘A’ contains the list of bold words,
and in column ‘B’ the suggested corrections are listed. You have to choose the best
alternative among the four given options. If no correction is required against the
given bold words, mark (e) .i.e. none of the above as your answer.
Q1. The attraction of lithium, the metal dubbed white petroleum, has proved reproval for
Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person and one of the world’s richest women. But her entry
into one of the commodities being driven higher by strong demand for the batteries used to
power electric vehicles (EVs) is far from conventional.
Column (A) Column (B)

(I) Attract (V) Lure
(II) Reproval (VI) Irresistible
(III) Commodities (VII) Critiques
(IV) Conventional (VIII) Commendable
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI
(c)III –VII and IV – VIII
(d)I-V and II-VI
(e)None of the above
Q2. The problem with hearing aids is the lack of examination about what they can and
cannot do. Even today, with modern digital technology to dither out background noises,
most hearing aids will not allow the user to hear only the person talking.

(I) Problem (V) Promotion
(II) Examination (VI) Information
(III) Dither (VII) Filter
(IV) Person (VIII) Individuals

163
(a)II-VI and III-VII

(b)I-V and IV – VIII
(c)II-VI
(d)I – V
Q3. The augments are intended to prevent the country’s dominant tech companies from
squeezing out rivals by offering below-cost services, exclusive distribution requirements,
engaging in price-fixing, as well as using algorithms and other restrictive technologies to
manipulate the market.

(I) Augments (V) Regulations
(II) Distribution (VI) Registration
(III) Algorithms (VII) Alter
(IV) Manipulate (VIII) Synchronize
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI
(d)I-V and II-VI
Q4. The overall design of the yacht is characterized by large and flexible outdoor spaces
that can be used for both sun and shade as well as tender and toy storage. The duct can
also contend with modular equipment including a swimming pool and a removable battery
bank.

(I) Characterized (V) Normalized
(II) Sun (VI) Son
(III) Duct (VII) Deck
(IV) Contend (VIII) Accommodate
(a)I-V and II-VI
(b)III-VII and IV – VIII
(c)III-VII
(d)IV – VIII

164
Q5. Ultimately, like other fintechs that have started out focusing on one segment, Affirm is
aiming to profit by selling more financial services to a obtained customer base that buys its
fee-transparency pitch.

(I) Focused (V) Amused
(II) Profit (VI) Benefiting
(III) Obtained (VII) Loyal
(IV) Transparency (VIII) Expectancy
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI and IV – VIII
(c)III-VII
(d)I-V and IV – VIII
Q6. After a personal from the Army and the Engineer Task Force opened the mouth of the
tunnel in the morning, a team started removing the slush using earthmovers and
excavators. An ITBP official said the rescue team had gone into the tunnel with
victim-locating cameras and catcher dogs.

(I) Personal (V) Personnel
(II) Mouth (VI) Cave
(III) Slush (VII) Mudding
(IV) Catcher (VIII) Sniffer
(a)I –V and IV – VIII

(b)II-VI
(c)III-VII
(d)IV–VIII

165
Q7. The commercial begins with a boost from Martin Luther King: “Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere”. Images from the farmers’ tractor parade and their border
camps are overpaid with text alleging human rights violations against protesters. Punjabi
music plays as “No Farmers, No Food, No Future” flashes on the screen.

(I) Boost (V) Quote
(II) Overpaid (VI) Overlaid
(III) Violations (VII) Exaggerate
(IV) Flashes (VIII) Encompasses
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI
(d)I-V and II-VI
Q8. The Minister also took a dig at the opposition, saying that one party was engaged only
in promoting the identity of one family; while the other party was busy ensuring it does not
honor its own promises.

(I) Dig (V) Take
(II) Engaged (VI) Enraged
(III) Ensuring (VII) Ensuing
(IV) Promises (VIII) Premises

(c)II-VI
(d)I – V
Q9. Following a plea alleging illegal and unregulated use of parks for controversial
purposes, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to
maintain vigil and prevent violation of environmental norms.


166
(I) Alleging (V) Adapting

(II) Controversial (VI) Commercial
(III) Vigil (VII) Rigid
(IV) Norms (VIII) Rulings
(a)I-V
(b) II-VI
(d)I-V and II-VI
Q10. The accused has been running a tools shop for the past 13 years. But due to a
financial crisis, he provided the space to his uncle, who used it for the liberal telephone
exchange. He also unexcited a high-speed Wi-Fi connection for the set-up.

(I) Accused (V) Disparaged
(II) Space (VI) Break
(III) Liberal (VII) Illegal
(IV) Unexcited (VIII) Provided
(a)I-V and II-VI

(c)III-VII
(d)IV – VIII
Q11. The government said that about the program, UPSC aspirants in schools get a chance
to inspect with young IAS/IPS officers every month and officers share their experiences,
strategies, and insights about UPSC exam preparations to help students develop a better
understanding of the tough test.

(I) About (V) Under
(II) Inspect (VI) Interact
(III) Insights (VII) Insides

167
(IV) Understanding (VIII) Undermining
(a)I-V
(c)III-VII
(d)I-V and II-VI
Q12. If Myanmar’s democracy prior to the February 2021 coup was inadequate towards
minorities, its political future will be a lot more complicated, making the saviors of outside
powers far more constrained.

(I) Inadequate (V) Intolerant
(II) Political (VI) Tolerable
(III) Saviours (VII) Choices
(IV) Constrained (VIII) Constraint
(a)I –II and III-VII

(b)II-VI
(c)III-VII
(d)IV–VIII
Q13. Two untoward implications could result from under-investing and spreading funds too
thinly. Continuing the pious of health and wellness centers without enough funding would
mean that the full range of pompous services will not be available.

(I) Untoward (V) Arrogant
(II) Thinly (VI) Responsibly
(III) Pious (VII) Prompt
(IV) Pompous (VIII) Promised
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI
(d)I-V and II-VI

168
Q14. India is heavily accorded in dam development and growth of hydropower, largely in
the Himalayas region — especially to cut carbon emissions. By one estimate, if the national
plan to construct dams in 28 river valleys in the hills is realized in a few decades, the Indian
Himalayas will have one dam for every 32 km, among the world’s highest densities.

(I) Accorded (V) Invested
(II) Carbon (VI) Footprint
(III) Realized (VII) Refused
(IV) Densities (VIII) Communities

(c)II-VI
(d)I – V
Q15. The decision is debatable for the unusual delay in the Governor reaching his
conclusion as much for its legal correctness. It took Mr. Purohit more than two years to
decide the question. The Supreme Court has been asking him to avoid a situation in which
it would have to intervene.

(I) Debatable (V) Unacceptable
(II) Correctness (VI) Competitiveness
(III) Question (VII) Distraction
(IV) Intervene (VIII) Reconvene
(a)I-V
(b)II-VI
(d)I-V and II-VI
Q16. In 1991, when the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh ushered in economic
reforms that catapulted India into the global economy, I had asked him how he removed to
balance the frailty economic growth with environmental protection.

169

(I) Ushered (V) Provoked
(II) Catapulted (VI) Chocked
(III) Removed (VII) Intended
(IV) Frailty (VIII) Rapid
(a)I-V and II-VI

(c)III-VII
(d)IV – VIII
Q17. Since the epidemic was transitioning to the endemic phase from the third week of
January, the vaccination is not expected to impact the epidemic, but offers protection to
healthcare workers since terrifying exposure to infection is an occupational hazard.

(I) Transitioning (V) Persuading
(II) Impact (VI) Support
(III) Terrifying (VII) Repeated
(IV) Hazard (VIII) Reunion
(a)I-V
(c)III-VII
Q18. During his eight-year criticism, the Frankfurt-based institution’s policy to buy unlimited
quantities of sovereign bonds of ailing economies was a alleviate moment in stabilizing the
single currency area, even if the initiative incurred the wrath of Germany.

(I) Criticism (V) Stewardship
(II) Ailing (VI)Relating
(III) Alleviate (VII)Pivotal

170
(IV) Incurred (VIII) Nudged
(a)I–II and III-VII

(b)II-VI
(c)III-VII
(d)IV–VIII
Q19. Legally, the best-case scenario would be to submit the government from being able to
directly order intermediaries to block access to online information, except in
narrowly-defined emergency cases, and to require it to go through court to do so, with an
adequate opportunity for the conceited parties to defend themselves.

(I) Submit (V) Prohibit
(II) Block (VI) Retort
(III) Emergency (VII) Disaster
(IV) Conceited (VIII) Affected
(a)I –V and IV – VIII

(b)II-VI
(c)III-VII
(d)IV–VIII
Q20. The bloody incident at Galwan on June 15, 2020, the first involving charities since
1975, brought about the collapse of the prevailing consensus that bilateral ties could
develop in parallel with efforts to resolve the boundary question and the maintenance of
peace and answerability.

(I) Charities (V) Casualties
(II) Prevailing (VI) Instilling
(III) Resolve (VII) Absolve
(IV) Answerability (VIII) Tranquillity
(a)I-V

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(c)III-VII
Direction (21-50): In the following question, a part of the sentence is given in bold; it
is then followed by three sentences that try to explain the meaning of the phrase
given in bold. Choose the best set of alternatives from the five options given below
each question which explains the meaning of the phrase correctly without altering the
meaning of the sentence given to the question.
Q21. Play it by ear

(I) I don't have a set schedule, so we'll have to act according to the circumstances.
(II) That suggestion of yours might just become a reality—I do have the attention of CEO,
you know.
(III) ' I don't know what will happen next. I'm dealing with things as they happen.
(a)Only (I) is correct

(b)Only (II) is correct
(c) Only (III) is correct
(d)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q22. Be up with the lark

(I) I've always loved camping: waking up at sunrise, cooking breakfast over an open fire,
exploring the great outdoors—it's all wonderful!
(II) I got up early in the morning, too excited at the prospect of seeing my team to sleep.
(III) I knew not handing in my homework would be a problem eventually—stuff like that
always causes problems.
(a)Both (I) and (II) is correct

(c)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(d)Only (III) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q23. Go for the jugular

172
(I) An internship might not sound very interesting, but it's a great way to get a chance to do
something at this company.
(II) Bob's request for a large salary increase was dismissed and ridiculed.
(III) If you want to attack aggressively against your opponent, I have some damaging
information you might be interested in.

(b) Both (III) and (I) are correct
(c)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q24. Stir up a hornet’s nest

(I) The government's military interventions really just complicated the situation in the
region.
(II) The politician's off-the-cuff remark about pollution provoked offended reactions among
environmentalists.
(III) Anthony is in a troublesome situation with his creditors and if he doesn't pay off his
debts, they're going to take everything he owns.
(a)Only (III) is correct

(d)Only (I) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q25. Come hell and high water

(I) don't care if I have to drive through a blizzard—we are getting to this wedding in spite of
any obstacle.
(II) No matter what, we will have this project finished on time.
(III) I got into a lot of trouble when I was in high school, but I settled down a bit after I
graduated.

(e)All are correct

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Q26. Make a beeline for something or someone

(I) Whenever I park in the city, the fear of being towed is always present in my mind.
(II) I knew the boss was angry, so when I saw her come in, I quickly headed towards the
break room.
(III) The boys headed for computer games while the girls went straight for the dolls.

(b)Both (II) and (III) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q27. Cry over spilt milk

(I) I didn't want to be upset and I didn't even accept the psychological help and therapy that
was offered to me.
(II) I told you not make a fuss about it, and here you are, worrying over what has
happened.
(III) You can’t just lament about losing the game, we just have to keep going and try to get
some players back to full fitness.

(e)All are correct
Q28. Bury the hatches

(I) Leading tech competitors settle their differences to improve energy efficiency.
(II) You have to speak frankly about it and acknowledge the corruption built into this
system.
(III) They need to calm down and make peace before someone gets hurt.
(a) Both (I) and (III) is correct


174

(e)All are correct
Q29. Vote with one’s feet

(I) It was heard from the rumours that the captain of the team was stepping down, but the
news could not be confirmed.
(II) After his inappropriate comment, we all registered our disapproval and just walked
away, leaving him standing there alone.
(III) People want to get approval through their presence and let their voice be heard, but
when it comes to all things European, they are not concerned.
(a)Both (I) and (II) is correct

(b)Both (II) and (III) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q30. To fish in troubled waters

(I) Frank is getting himself in a dangerous situation by buying more shares of that
company.
(II) We must be careful not to appear to be taking advantage of his problems.
(III) Things seem to be returning to their original position as politicians are beginning to
call for deregulation of the industry once again.

(e)All are correct
Q31. Gift of the gab

(I) Alexis really has the ability to speak persuasively, so she should be the one to address
the potential investors.
(II) Acting is not mere a manner to speak clearly and confidently, but a skill that comes
from a serious observation of life and all around.

175
(III) He was a pleasant little man with spiked hair, a black pipe, and a great skill to
persuade other people with his words.
(a)Only (II) is correct

(b)Only (I) is correct
(d) Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q32. Eat the humble pie

(I) He swore to me that he had left it back in my shed, but had to make a humble apology
when he discovered it was in his garage all the time.
(II) I think Ellen is a perfectionist because the thought of accepting defeat and criticism
terrifies her.
(III) It was a risk I was prepared to take, although if it didn't work out I knew I might have to
come back and accept humiliation.

(d)Both (III) and (I) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q33. Rest on one’s laurels

(I) I know your first novel was a smash success, but if you just stop putting in the efforts,
you're going to fade into obscurity.
(II) The company has stopped to innovate and advance their device design for the past
decade, and smaller companies are surpassing them with innovative stuff.
(III) It may be time-consuming to check the oil in your car every time you buy gasoline, but
you should be cautious rather than be sorry later.

(b)Only (I) and (II) is correct
(c)Both (III) and (II) are correct
(d) Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct

176
Q34. Let the grass grow beneath one’s feet

(I) She'd known she was taking a risk in revealing the secret about Jacobs.
(II) I used to wait before doing something, and I missed out on a lot of opportunities.
(III) Catherine proved that she doesn't stand still and inactive as she won the Northern
Women's Championship.
(a) Both (I) and (III) are correct

(b) Both (III) and (II) are correct
(c) Both (I) and (II) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q35. Shape up or ship out

(I) I've warned you about turning up to work late for the last time—you need to improve
your behaviour or leave the job.
(II) He never used to support that political candidate, but he's changed his opinion all of a
sudden.
(III) I can't believe he went out on his motorcycle in this rain; his nonchalant attitude is
going to get him killed.

(b)Only (III) is correct
(e)All are correct
Q36. Finger on the pulse

(I) We must abstain from destructive activities so that our children can inherit a peaceful
world.
(II) Sara really has keen awareness of nightlife in the city, so I would ask her where you
should have your birthday party.
(III) Monica wouldn't be so busy and stressed if she didn't have involvement in several
activities.

(b)Only (III) is correct

177

(e)All are correct
Q37. A hill of beans

(I) Our hearts had a strong desire for travelling to Spain for the summer, until Lizzy broke
her leg and we had to cancel the trip.
(II) Even after so many years, the company is still comparable with the most profitable
businesses in the world.
(III) For all the congressmen's posturing about overhauling the tax system, his plan to do so
is of little importance.
(a) Both (I) and (III) are correct

(b) Both (III) and (II) are correct
(c) Both (I) and (II) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q38. Jump on the bandwagon

(I) There will always be people ready to suddenly become involved in an activity and
start classes in whatever is fashionable, with little or no training.
(II) The senator got the advantage by visiting the state three times before his opponent
managed to make an appearance.
(III) As soon as their policies became popular, all the other parties started to join them.

(b)Only (I) is correct
(c)Both (III) and (II) are correct
(d) Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q39. To keep one’s hair on

(I) My mother would always stay calm when she would argue with my father.
(II) You have to keep cool and maintain decorum when you are talking with such important
clients else we will lose a lot of business.

178
(III) If you really want to become a comic book artist, you have to keep trying to achieve it.

(e)All are correct
Q40. Knee jerk reaction

(I) In a spontaneous reaction after the big defeat, the coach dropped many of the players
and fielded a new look team for the next match.
(II) You had your chance, now let your brother have a chance at breaking the piñata.
(III) Her remark was probably an automatic response to your comments, which were not
very flattering.
(a)Both (I) and (III) are correct

(b)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q41. Put the cart before the horse

(I) Don’t reverse the right method of it by investing in a new shop before selling that old
one situated in west of the city.
(II) I think you are doing it wrong by leaving your permanent job before getting new one.
(III) I'm afraid that since everyone knows about my recent diagnosis, I will be ruining
people’s enjoyment.

(e)All are correct
Q42. A cloud on the horizon

(I) Financial analysts believe that the sudden drop in oil prices points to a problematic
situation for the national economy.

179
(II) Although we are making good profits there is a sign of trouble — the government may
increase taxes.
(III) Unless you want to be a police suspect, you can't be seen with me, now that I have an
unfavourable relationship with you.

(b) Both (III) and (I) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q43. See eye to eye

(I) Some people think they can get away with anything and they always try to deceive
people.
(II) His mother and I don't agree with his decision to drop out of college.
(III) The ruling party and the opposition don’t have same views on most things.
(a)Both (II) and (III) are correct

(e)All are correct
Q44. Wear heart on sleeve

(I) She is a very sensitive person and openly reveals her feelings, so it very easy to hurt
her feelings.
(II) If you are open about your emotions, you will be very vulnerable and people are going
to take advantage of you.
(III) Jenny said she wasn't scared before we went into the haunted house, but terror was
evident from her face.

(e)All are correct

180
Q45. Wet behind the ears

(I) The heat and dust of this city is something different from the clean and cool climes of
the place where we used to live.
(II) Matthew’s inability to contribute to the topic at hand showed he was new and lacked
necessary experience when it comes to marketing.
(III) From the way the soldier handled the gun, everyone could tell that he was
inexperienced.
(a) Both (III) and (II) are correct

(e)All are correct
Q46. Stiff upper lip

(I) Throughout the funeral of her parents, Mary kept a control over her emotions.
(II) Once I learned that the trip was falling under my financial responsibility, I decided not
to go.
(III) It is hard to remain firm when everything is simply falling apart.
(d)Both (III) and I are correct
(e)All are correct
Q47. Knight in the shining armour

(I) The new law is just a misleading clue meant to draw our attention away from the issues
regarding education.
(II) John is like a well mannered man to Jane since he paid her credit card bills.
(III) Don’t try to be brave soldier you can’t save that drowning dog into the raging river.

(c)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct

181
Q48. Skating on thin ice

(I) Amanda decided to take a risk by quitting her day job to pursue her passion of wildlife
photography.
(II) Rather than engaging in a danger by investing in risky ventures, people should hire a
business and financial expert first.
(III) I feel their decision to get married after meeting just a week ago is like getting into
trouble.

(e)All are correct
Q49. Play second fiddle

(I) Martha is always in her sister’s shadow, playing subordinate role to her every time.
(II) The new boy band is distinct and determined not to be in a weak position to any other
group.
(III) After the nasty fight with her sister, Alice decided to improve her relationship by buying
her sister some presents.

(e)All are correct
Q50. Make a virtue of necessity

(I) Though I had to leave for my vacation too but I extracted something beneficial from it
and learned new technology needed for the project.
(II) The apartment they live in now is entirely different from the huge mansion they once
used to have.
(III) It’s was a long journey from Delhi to Australia so I thought I would use this situation in
a best possible way and write some articles that had to be submitted to the magazines.

182

(c) Only (III) is correct
(d)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Pre Questions 2
Type - Word Replacement
Directions(51-60): In the following question, a sentence is given with FOUR words

marked as (m), (n), (o) and (p). These words may or may not be placed at their correct
places. Four options with different arrangements of these words have been provided.
Mark the option with the correct arrangement as the answer. If no rearrangement is
required, mark option (E) as your answer.
51. A big mistake by police forces everywhere is to allow weapon-bearing processions to

(m)uphold and police personnel failing to (n)embolden powers given to them to
(o)proceed public order only serves to (p)maintain mobs.
A. npom
B. ompn
C. pmno
D. nopm
52. Police forces across (m)binaries that are now struggling to bottle the communal
(n)refrain could certainly do without the constant political (o)genie of majority-minority
(p)states.
A. nmpo
B. ponm
C. nmop
D. mpon
53. His (m)fringe directing police to only give (n)commandment to those processions that
are traditional and reject new/unnecessary events is important in today’s (o)permission

183
where a violent, hate-spewing (p)context is trying to dictate terms to the state and upsetting
communal harmony and public order by hijacking random religious events, symbols and
sites.
A. npom
B. ompn
C. pmno
D. nopm
54. While ordinary citizens have little (m)peril over the politics of their countries, they
mustn’t lose faith in (n)authority; it's the (o)policing of law that keeps individuals,
communities, businesses and livelihoods safe but we forget these basics at our own (p)rule.
A. npom
B. ompn
C. pmno
D. nopm
55. GoI has the space to first (m)push ahead fuel taxes to (n)draw in the economically
vulnerable and (o)cushion with its infrastructure spending; its fiscal policy’s turn to do the
heavy lifting and (p)slash private investment.
A. npom
B. ompn
C. pomn
D. nopm
56. Congress recognised this in 2017 while making a determined (m)groundswell under
Rahul Gandhi to wrest the state, but five years later, the (n)bid that lifted Congress’s
(o)agitation then, like the Patidar (p)campaign and traders’ opposition to GST, has
receded.

184
A. npom
B. ompn
C. pomn
D. nmpo
57. While bypolls have limited predictive (m)seat, some of them do lend themselves to a lot
of meaningful political (n)stronghold; Maharashtra’s Kolhapur North assembly (o)value is a
Shiv Sena (p)unpacking that this time became a high-decibel prestige fight between
Congress and BJP candidates.
A. npom
B. opmn
C. pomn
D. onmp
58. It’s a sensible (m)direction as being multilingual confers many advantages, and the
country has moved in that (n)suit; politicians have followed (o)pressure on the heels of
democratic (p)choice.
A. npom
B. opmn
C. pomn
D. pmno
59. US President-elect Joe Biden recently made two important (m)overviews while
introducing his new foreign policy team; giving (n)observations of his foreign policy
(o)allies, he said that America is ready to once again take a leadership position and it is
strongest when it works with (p)approaches.
A. npom
B. opmn
C. pomn

185
D. nmpo
60. The Donald Trump administration got its (m)strategic (n)overall approach to China
right, however, the manner in which it went about realising it, without taking allies along, was
(o)transactional; the Biden administration should avoid that approach by taking a strategic
rather than (p)self-contradictory view of trade ties with allies.
A. npom
B. opmn
C. pomn
D. nmpo
Directions(61-64): In the following question, a sentence is given with FOUR words

marked as (m), (n), (o) and (p). These words may or may not be placed at their correct
places. Four options with different arrangements of these words have been provided.
Mark the option with the correct arrangement as the answer. If no rearrangement is
required, mark option (E) as your answer.
61. Politicians in many states have created “all-woman police stations” and looked for
(m)gestures, (n)substance and, of course, votes, but you cannot dupe citizens with
(o)glory without (p)admiration.
A. nopm
B. opmn
C. onmp
D. pmno
62. Jammu and Kashmir, among the lowest with about 3 per cent women in the police,
needs not only urgent recruitment (m)leadership but also (n)drives of its political and police
(o)failure about this dismal (p)sensitisation.

186
A. nopm
B. mpon
C. npmo
D. opnm
63. The outcomes of the recently concluded assembly elections are a (m)success that the
particular (n)governance of (o)testimony has provided a recipe for the party's (p)model
across the country.
A. omnp
B. npom
C. opnm
D. pnmo
64. Ordinarily, the prices of petrol and diesel are revised daily in (m)average with a 15-day
rolling (n)products of (o)line prices of the petroleum (p)benchmark.
A. ompn
B. onmp
C. pnmo
D. monp
ANSWER
1.Ans. (d)
Sol. I-V and II-VI will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
contextually meaningful. Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
2.Ans. (a)
Sol. II-VI and III-VII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
contextually meaningful. Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.

187
3.Ans. (a)
Sol. I-V will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually
meaningful. Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
4.Ans. (b)
Sol. III-VII and IV – VIII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
contextually meaningful. Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
5.Ans. (c)
Sol. III-VII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually
meaningful. Hence, option (c) is the right choice.
6.Ans. (a)
Sol. I –V and IV – VIII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
7.Ans. (d)
8.Ans. (e)
Sol. The given sentence is correct and the highlighted words are also correctly placed.
Hence, the right answer choice will be an option (e).
9.Ans. (b)
Sol. II-VI will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually
meaningful. Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
10. Ans. (b)

11.Ans. (d)

188
12.Ans. (a)
Sol. I –II and III-VII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
13.Ans. (c)
Sol. III-VII and IV – VIII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct
and contextually meaningful. Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
14.Ans. (d)
Sol. I-V will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually
meaningful. Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
15.Ans. (e)
Sol. Here, all the highlighted words are correct. Hence, option (e) is the right answer
choice.
16.Ans. (b)
17. Ans. (c)

Sol. III-VII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually
meaningful. Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
18.Ans. (a)
Sol. I–II and III-VII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
19.Ans. (a)
Sol. I –II and IV – VIII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and
20. Ans. (d)

Sol. I-V and IV – VIII will be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and

189
21. Ans. (d)

Sol. Play it by ear: If you play it by ear, you deal with things as they happen, rather than
following a plan or previous arrangement.
-To act according to the circumstances; improvise
22. Ans. (a)

Sol. Be up with the lark: To wake and get out of bed at sunrise.
- get up early in the morning:
23.Ans. (d)
Sol. Go up for the jugular: o attack in the most aggressive way possible or where the victim
is most vulnerable. Despite the imagery, the term is almost never used to refer to physical
violence. (The jugular is a vein in the neck that transports blood between the head and the
heart, and is a common target for some predators.)
24.Ans. (c)
Sol. Stir up a hornet’s nest: To create, provoke, or trigger a dangerous, troublesome, or
complicated situation.
-To provoke or instigate a lot of very angry or offended reactions.
25. Ans. (a)

Sol. Come hell or high water: No matter what; in spite of any obstacle.
26. Ans. (b)

Sol. Make a beeline for something or someone: If you make a beeline for something, you go
straight to it without any hesitation or delay.
- To head directly and quickly toward something or some place.
27.Ans. (e)
Sol. Cry over spilt milk: To be upset over something that cannot be fixed, often something
minor.

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Don't be upset over something that cannot be fixed. Said especially of something trivial or
minor.
lament or make a fuss about a misfortune that has happened and that cannot be changed or
reversed.
28. Ans. (a)

Sol. Bury the hatchet: To make peace with someone.
- settle one's differences
- When people who have argued bury the hatchet, they agree to forget their argument and
become friends again.
29.Ans. (b)
Sol. Vote with one’s feet: To show one's approval or disapproval of something through one's
presence or absence, especially disapproval through leaving a place by walking out.
- Indicate one's disapproval by walking out or emigrating.
- To register disapproval by leaving.
30. Ans. (c)

Sol. To fish in troubled waters: to involve oneself in a difficult, confused, or dangerous
situation, especially with a view to gaining an advantage.
- If you fish in troubled waters, you try to get an advantage by getting involved in someone
else's problems.
31. Ans. (e)

Sol. Gift of the gab: If someone has the gift of the gab, they are able to speak confidently,
clearly, and in a persuasive way.
- The ability to speak to others in a self-assured, persuasive manner.
- The ability to speak easily and to persuade other people with your words.
32.Ans. (d)
Sol. Eat the humble pie: make a humble apology and accept humiliation.
33.Ans. (b)

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Sol. Rest on one’s laurels: To stop putting in effort, trying to innovate, or working to advance
one's career or status and instead rely on one's past achievements or accolades to remain
relevant or successful.
To stop trying because one is satisfied with one's past achievements.
34. Ans. (b)

Sol. Let the grass grow beneath one’s feet: To be inactive; to do nothing or stand still. Often
used in the negative as an imperative ("don't let the grass grow beneath your feet").
- to wait before doing something or to do something slowly —used in negative statements
35. Ans. (a)

Sol. Shape up or ship out: To either improve behaviour, performance, or attitude, or else (be
forced to) leave (a job, relationship, living situation, etc.).
36.Ans. (a)
Sol. Finger on the pulse: A keen awareness of current trends and happenings.
37.Ans. (d)
Sol. A hill of beans: Something of little or no importance, value, or worth.
38.Ans. (d)
Sol. Jump on the bandwagon: To join or follow something once it is successful or popular.
- If someone jumps on the bandwagon, they suddenly become involved in an activity
because it is likely to succeed or it is fashionable.
- do something that others are already doing because it is successful or fashionable
39. Ans. (c)

Sol. To keep one’s hair on: to request someone to stay calm and not get annoyed
to ask to maintain cool and decorum
to ask to not over react on a situation
40. Ans. (a)

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Sol. Knee jerk reaction:

an automatic response to something
an immediate reaction made without thinking
a reflex reaction
an instant reaction made without examining causes or facts
a spontaneous and involuntary reaction
41. Ans. (c)

Sol. Put the cart before the horse: to do things in the wrong order or sequence
To do something in wrong manner
Reverse the right method of doing something
42.Ans. (b)
Sol. A cloud on the horizon: An omen that something bad or problematic will happen in the
near future.
- a sign of trouble or difficulty to come
43.Ans. (a)
Sol. See eye to eye: To agree fully with someone
Be in full agreement
To have the same views about something
44.Ans. (c)
Sol. Wear heart on sleeve: display your emotions openly
Make your feelings apparent and obvious
Openly reveal your feelings and emotions
Unable to hide your emotions and feelings
Be emotionally transparent
Be open or forthright about your emotions.
45. Ans. (a)

Sol. Wet behind the ears: immature or poor skill
To be inexperienced
To be new at something or somewhere and so lack the necessary experience

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46.Ans. (d)
Sol. Stiff upper lip: To be brave in the face of adversity
To keep your emotions in control and not show when you are upset
To remain firm in purpose and not let an unpleasant situation distract you
47.Ans. (b)
Sol. Knight in the shining armour: used to describe someone who saves you from a difficult
situation
A well-mannered man who comes to save or help somebody from trouble
The term is used quite humorously as someone who comes to your aid
48.Ans. (e)
Sol. Skating on thin ice: to do something considered quite dangerous or risky
To be in a situation that can get quite dangerous or risky
Engaged in some activity or behaviour that is very risky, dangerous, or likely to cause a lot of
trouble.
49.Ans. (c)
Sol. Play second fiddle: to play a secondary or minor role with regards to someone else
To be regarded as less important or be in a weak position when compared to someone else
To be a subordinate to someone or take a backseat when it concerns that person
50.Ans. (d)
Sol. Make a virtue of necessity: extract something beneficial from an unwelcome obligation
To shift the important deeds or act into a positive or useful experience
To use a difficult situation in the best possible way
To give the best possible effort one can under an uneasy situation
51.(Answer - B. ompn

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A big mistake by police forces everywhere is to allow weapon-bearing processions to

proceed and police personnel failing to uphold powers given to them to maintain public
order only serves to embolden mobs.
uphold - preserve.
embolden - give (someone) the courage or confidence to do something.)
52.(Answer - B. ponm
Police forces across states that are now struggling to bottle the communal genie could
certainly do without the constant political refrain of majority-minority binaries.
genie - an invisible spirit.

binary - something having two parts.)
53.(Answer - D. nopm
His commandment directing police to only give permission to those processions that are
traditional and reject new/unnecessary events is important in today’s context where a
violent, hate-spewing fringe is trying to dictate terms to the state and upsetting communal
harmony and public order by hijacking random religious events, symbols and sites.
commandment - a rule to be observed as strictly.

fringe - the outer or less important part of an area, group, or activity.)
54.(Answer - D. nopm
While ordinary citizens have little authority over the politics of their countries, they mustn’t
lose faith in policing; it's the rule of law that keeps individuals, communities, businesses
and livelihoods safe but we forget these basics at our own peril.
peril - serious and immediate danger.)
55.(Answer - C. pomn
GoI has the space to first slash fuel taxes to cushion the economically vulnerable and
push ahead with its infrastructure spending; its fiscal policy’s turn to do the heavy lifting and
draw in private investment.

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draw in - attract.
slash - cut down.
cushion - protect from impact.)
56.(Answer - D. nmpo
Congress recognised this in 2017 while making a determined bid under Rahul Gandhi to
wrest the state, but five years later, the groundswell that lifted Congress’s campaign then,
like the Patidar agitation and traders’ opposition to GST, has receded.
groundswell - an increase in a particular opinion among a large section of the population.)
57.(Answer - B. opmn
While bypolls have limited predictive value, some of them do lend themselves to a lot of
meaningful political unpacking; Maharashtra’s Kolhapur North assembly seat is a Shiv
Sena stronghold that this time became a high-decibel prestige fight between Congress and
BJP candidates.
unpacking - analysing (something) into its component elements.
stronghold - a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.)
58.(Answer - D. pmno
It’s a sensible choice as being multilingual confers many advantages, and the country has
moved in that direction; politicians have followed suit on the heels of democratic pressure.
follow suit - conform to another's actions.)
US President-elect Joe Biden recently made two important observations while introducing
his new foreign policy team; giving overviews of his foreign policy approaches, he said that
America is ready to once again take a leadership position and it is strongest when it works
with allies.)

196
The Donald Trump administration got its overall strategic approach to China right, however,
the manner in which it went about realising it, without taking allies along, was
self-contradictory; the Biden administration should avoid that approach by taking a
strategic rather than transactional view of trade ties with allies.
transactional - relating to the conducting of business, especially buying or selling.)
61.(Answer - B. opmn
Politicians in many states have created “all-woman police stations” and looked for glory,
admiration and, of course, votes, but you cannot dupe citizens with gestures without
substance.)
62.(Answer - C. npmo
Jammu and Kashmir, among the lowest with about 3 per cent women in the police, needs
not only urgent recruitment drives but also sensitisation of its political and police
leadership about this dismal failure.
sensitization - the quality or condition of responding to certain stimuli in a sensitive

manner.)
63.(Answer - C. opnm
The outcomes of the recently concluded assembly elections are a testimony that the
particular model of governance has provided a recipe for the party's success across the
country.
testimony - evidence or proof of something.)
64.(Answer - A. ompn
Ordinarily, the prices of petrol and diesel are revised daily in line with a 15-day rolling
average of benchmark prices of the petroleum products.)

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CHAPTER 6 - CLOZE TEST

Directions (1-6): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each
of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given
against each letter and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the
paragraph meaningful.
A quick dip stick among people residing in the housing societies of the Delhi-National
Capital Region shows that many households have still not re-employed part-time helps who
were initially prohibited from entering gated complexes during the ___________ (1)
lockdown. Such families continue to manage household chores on their own along with
office work. This boded well for consumer durable companies, which have been vocal about
___________ (2) sales of white goods and kitchen appliances. Once the lockdown was
lifted, retailers and companies reported a ___________ (3) in demand for washing
machines, dishwashers, large-screen TVs and kitchen appliances.Market research firm GfK,
which tracked consumption of white goods between June and September, found Indians
bought more front-loading washing machines, food processors, microwave ovens and larger
refrigerators, according to a Mint report. GfK said, with changed lifestyles, consumers
wanted products, solutions and services that make their life at home ___________ (4).
Consumer durables firm Voltas, too, said that in the ‘new normal’, it is likely that consumers
will invest in IoT-based technology to ease the ___________ (5) of household chores. “The
latest developments in the area of IoT have provided comfort and convenience to
consumers, leading to growing ___________ (6) for smart appliances," a Voltas
spokesperson says.
Q1.
(a) Aggravate
(b) Renounce
(c) Stringent

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(d) Compel
(e) Disconcert
Q2.
(a) Joined
(b) Unadorned
(c) Befogged
(d) Sullied
(e) Improved
Q3.
(a) Jump
(b) Able
(c) Cheer
(d) Inept
(e) Permit
Q4.
(a) Yield
(b) Simple
(c) Effect
(d) Differ
(e) Desist
Q5.
(a) Cruelty
(b) Termination
(c) Trouble
(d) Burden
(e) Cloak
Q6.
(a) Traction
(b) Bewitch

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(c) Ionized
(d) Repel
(e) Integrate
Directions (7-12): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out,
each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given
Nilesh Shah, group president and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management,
has warned that 2021 will be a ___________ (7) year for equities, as there are doubts
around the world about the effectiveness of vaccines. Although he doesn’t see Indian
equities in a “bubble zone" yet, he has ____________ (8) investors against going
“overweight" on these. True, since many believe that covid jabs were rushed out, vaccine
________ (9) could delay the programme, thus delaying our return to normalcy. Also, if
corporate earnings fail to catch up with stock valuations that have reached treacherous
levels, it could trigger a ________________ (10) as investors look for an exit. The
______________ (11) rise of the Sensex, which has almost doubled from its March lows,
has cheap foreign capital looking for high returns in emerging markets to thank, mostly.
Worryingly, though, evidence of a topline corporate recovery has been all but absent so far,
and business expansion is the only way for profits to go up sustainably. Profits __________
(12) through cost compression has its limits. With the earnings growth trajectory still so
uncertain, investors, flush with easy money, or not, must exercise caution.
Q7.
(a) Harmonious
(b) Inglorious
(c) Acclaimed
(d) Turbulent
(e) Volatile
Q8.
(a) Bunched
(b) Cautioned
(c) Undaunted
(d) Piled
(e) Biased

200
Q9.
(a) Fallacy
(b) Conspiracy
(c) Hesitancy
(d) Lunacy
(e) Flippancy
Q10.
(a) Haughty
(b) Obstinate
(c) Tranquil
(d) Dilemma
(e) Stampede
Q11.
(a) Diaphanous
(b) Monotonous
(c) Vertiginous
(d) Mutinous
(e) Ominous
Q12.
(a) Eaten up
(b) Eked out
(c) Embarked on
(d) Engaged in
(e) Entrusted to
Direction (13-20): In the following passage, some of the words have been highlighted
in bold. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about. Then replace
the highlighted words with the correct option in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense. In case the highlighted word is correct as it is, mark 'No
Improvement' as the right answer.

201
With talks between the government and farmers on India’s three agricultural laws failing to
break the current deadlock, the Supreme Court’s Tuesday connotation (13) might yet be
the best hope to find a middle path agreeable to both sides. Unfortunately, this process has
also got constituted (14) right at the onset. The impartiality of a panel of four experts
appointed by the apex court has been questioned, with farmers pointing out that all of them
have taken a public appeal (15) in support of the laws in focus. As the outcome of the
proceedings can therefore be guessed, farm protesters argue, another fait accompli is being
dwelled (16) upon them. A glance at the quartet’s past views would indicate that such critics
do have a point. Agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, a prominent (17) member of the
committee, has been a vocal advocate of farm reforms in general and these laws in
particular. He has likened the move to India’s 1991 opening up. Pramod Joshi, former South
Asia director of the International Food Policy Research Institute, has opposed any legal
insisting (18) of minimum support prices (MSPs), a key demand of farmers, under our
public procurement system. He has also advocated contract farming, which farmers fear
may result in their subjugation (19) to powerful corporations. Similarly, Anil Ghanwat of
Shetkari Sanghatana, a pro-reform farmer union, has openly backed the laws, as has
Bhupinder Singh Mann, national president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union. To be fair, almost all
of them have offered variations (20) arguments, favouring amendments to assure farmers
easy access to judicial recourse or continuity of the state-procurement regime.
Q13.
(a) Irritation
(b) Implementation
(c) Intervention
(d) Sanctioned
(e) No Improvement
Q14.
(a) Boasted
(b) Advocated
(c) Alleged
(d) Vitiated
(e) No Improvement
Q15.
(a) Stance
(b) Attribute

202
(c) Exertion
(d) Disposition
(e) No Improvement
Q16.
(a) Persist
(b) Weigh
(c) Thrust
(d) Distinctive
(e) No Improvement
Q17.
(a) Keen
(b) Liberal
(c) Meritorious
(d) Formal
(e) No Improvement
Q18.
(a) Lowering
(b) Spending
(c) Backing
(d) Mining
(e) No Improvement
Q19.
(a) Alienation
(b) Jurisdiction
(c) Faction
(d) Association
(e) No Improvement
Q20.
(a) Harried

203
(b) Convinces
(c) Inspiring
(d) Nuanced
(e) No Improvement
Direction(21-23): In the passage below, there are TWO BLANKS in some of the lines.
There will be A PHRASAL VERB and A PHRASE in those two blanks. Choose the right
combination(s) for each line.
It may seem ironic that at a time when the world is more connected than ever before — 3.01
billion people keep in touch with one another via the internet — people are _______ by
____________________. The era when being solitary was a cherished goal — Greta Garbo
had famously quipped, “I want to be alone”— is now gone. Human contact is increasingly
becoming a luxury good and the market appears to have _________ that there can be a
______________________. The start-up, Goodfellows, supported by Ratan Tata, aims to
connect youngsters with senior citizens so that the latter can have company and the former
jobs. There are applications that allow people to ________ a ‘mother’, a ‘father’ or a
‘girlfriend’ for a day; there are even AI bots that try and ___________________________.
That so many are willing to pay for companionship, a fellowship that was assumed to be
freely available in the not-so-distant past, speaks of the profound scale and depth of the
modern phenomenon of loneliness. Estimates suggest that as much as 33per cent of the
world’s adults consider themselves to be lonely. The disintegration of the extended family,
________ with technological advancements, may have __________________________.
Even though everything — work, leisure, recreation, company— can be ordered at the click
of a mouse, the experience of organic bonding, the pleasure of in-person
encounters,remains irreplaceable to the human mind. The pandemic, with its periodic
lockdowns, has aggravated matters, as has the disappearance of greenery and spaces that
facilitated the collective. A study found that adults in neighbourhoods where at least 30 per
cent of nearby land was parks, reserves and woodlands had 26 per cent lower odds of
becoming lonely compared to their peers in areas with less than 10 percent of green space.
Ironically, loneliness is a shared phenomenon. This sense of sharedness must be
__________ in the battle to ______________________.

204
It may seem ironic that at a time when the world is more connected than ever before — 3.01
billion people keep in touch with one another via the internet — people are _______ by
____________________.
21. Which of the following pairs of a PHRASAL VERB and a PHRASE can most
appropriately fit in the blanks in the above statement respectively?
a. set upon, a sense of crushing loneliness

b. laced into, a feeling of devastating despondency
c. toned down, a sense of light-heartedness

and c
Human contact is increasingly becoming a luxury good and the market appears to have
_________ that there can be a ______________________.
a. worked out, stiff premium on companionship

b. taken in, strict stipulation of loneliness
c. figured out, rigid price of fellowship

and c
There are applications that allow people to ________ a ‘mother’, a ‘father’ or a ‘girlfriend’ for
a day; there are even AI bots that try and ___________________________.

205
a. take on, replicate the human experience of a friendly chat

b. sign on with, clone the essence of a congenial conversation
c. boot out, copy the perfunctory experience of a satisfying conversation

and c
each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given
Just as 2020 was ending, the EU and China announced the ______________ (24) of a
Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) between the two. This will be the most
ambitious agreement that China has ever concluded with a third country," ______________
(25) the European Commission. The CAI gives European firms enhanced access to the
Chinese market, removes (or relaxes) Chinese government requirements on joint ventures
and technology ______________ (26) in some sectors, and promises equal treatment with
state enterprises and greater regulatory transparency. Moreover, the Chinese government
has undertaken some obligations on environmental sustainability and labour rights, notably
by agreeing to make “continued and sustained efforts" to ______________ (27) the Forced
Labour Convention.
On paper, this is a win not only for European industry, but also for human rights. But the
reception the CAI has received has not been uniformly positive. The US reaction ranged
from disappointment to outright ______________ (28). For hardliners, Europe’s decision
looked like caving in to Chinese economic might and handing Beijing a diplomatic win. But
many moderates, including President-elect Joe Biden’s designated national security adviser,
were ______________ (29) as well. The incoming Biden administration would have
preferred a unified front against China, by striking an economic deal with Europe first. For
others, it was the EU’s apparent naiveté on China’s human rights promises that
______________ (30).
Q24.
(a) Completion

206
(b) Fabrication
(c) Gentleness
(d) Stabilization
(e) Frailty
Q25.
(a) Delusional
(b) Renounced
(c) Huddles
(d) Boasted
(e) Converged
Q26.
(a) Gloom
(b) Averted
(c) Abstain
(d) Transfer
(e) Unpretentious
Q27.
(a) Ratify
(b) Factual
(c) Bleak
(d) Renown
(e) Irritate
Q28.
(a) Perilous
(b) Secured
(c) Hostility
(d) Humbled
(e) Conformable
Q29.
(a) Tangled
(b)Defiled
(c) Dismayed

207
(d) Recreated
(e) Exquisite
Q30.
(a)Exhausted
(b) Jaded
(c) Kindred
(d) Antiquated
(e) Rankled
Direction (31-36): In the following passage, some of the words have been highlighted
the highlighted words with the correct option in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense. In case the highlighted word is correct as it is, mark 'No
Improvement' as the right answer.
The first pace (31) of DFIs (Development Finance Institutions) was offered by finance
minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her July 2019 budget speech. She spoke about the need for
a specialist DFI to channel funds to the ₹1 trillion of infrastructure projects planned over the
next five years. Not much happened after that. Then K.V. Kamath, who led the successful
tranquil (32) of the erstwhile ICICI from a development bank to a universal one, said that
India may need to consider a new DFI. These statements could be mere straws in the wind.
They come nearly two decades after India decided that its financial system was insecure
(33) enough to do away with the specialist institutions set up after independence to fund
large industrial projects. India no longer faced the problem of incomplete financial markets
that led to the queer (34) of specialist DFIs in the first place. There was also a lot of hope at
the turn of the century that the corporate bond market would reach maturity soon.
The idea that a country entering late into the seclude (35) game would need a special
category of lenders to push industrial investment is an old one. In his classic work on
economic backwardness, first published as an essay in 1951, Harvard University economic
historian Alexander Gerschenkron showed how countries that were late off the block had
created state institutions to promote growth. Among these new institutions were lenders that
would foray (36) savings into industrial investment, as was done by countries such as
Germany and France in the 19th century.
Q31.
(a) Hint
(b) Fierce

208
(c) Strife
(d) Demur
(e) No improvement required
Q32.
(a) Certainty
(b) Biased
(c) Transition
(d) Fallacious
Q33.
(a) Aspire
(b) Mature
(c) Produce
(d) Persist
Q34.
(a) Hindrance
(b) Creation
(c) Stimulant
(d) Colossal
Q35.
(a) Development
(b) Catastrophic
(c) Pliable
(d) Exultation
Q36.

209
(a) Remonstrate
(b) Purify
(c) Distort
(d) Channel
each of which is indicated by a letter. Find a suitable pair of words from the options
given below for the blank so as to make the paragraph meaningful.
Bejing is ______________ (37) gap with Washington in post pandemic scenario, they say
At a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance headed by BJP MP Jayant Sinha to
discuss ‘Long term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, trade flows
and financial markets’, Niti Aayog officials said China continued to ______________ (38)
India and, in fact, had managed to narrow the gap with the U.S. in the post pandemic
scenario. The officials did not give any specific details about the current economic state of
India. A presentation given by Ajit Pai, consultant to Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar,
said the global economy was at the same stage as it was in 1918 after the First World War.
The committee members asked whether COVID-19 had proved to be an ______________
(39) point in the global supply chain and if China would still continue to be the factory of the
world. Painting a ______________ (40) picture, the officials said, China had been closing
the gap between themselves and the U.S. This could very well be a flashpoint between the
two big economies of the world. China, the officials said, had ______________ (41) faster
than the other economies in the post COVID-19 world.
Q37.
(a) Detaining, Confining
(b) Alluring, Charming
(c) Closing, Eliminating
(d) Bewitching, Enduring
(e) Calculating, Feeling
Q38.
(a) Competent, Able
(b) Sullied, Virtuous
(c) Include, Contain
(d) Yield, Permit

210
(e) Outstrip, Surpass
Q39.
(a) Effect, Outcome
(b) Inflection, Turning
(c) Dissimilar, Conflicting
(d) Generic, Liberal
(e) Competitive, Inexpensive
Q40.
(a) Simple, Typical
(b) Bawdy, Boorish
(c) Abbreviate, Shrink
(d) Grim, Menacing
(e) Agreement, Accord
Q41.
(a) Undaunted, Diffident
(b) Readjusted, Reconciled
(c) Consolidated, Intentioned
(d) Founded, Sudden
(e) Mocked, Taunted
each of which is indicated by a letter. Find the suitable word from the options given
Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, according to sources, ______________ (42) the 2020
reforms with the 1991 opening of the Indian economy. “He claimed that the impact of 1991
reforms initiated by then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh is ______________ (43) to the
opening of mine and coal sectors done by the Narendra Modi government. He was
______________ (44) by TMC MP Saugata Roy, who asked for more details about the
so-called reforms,” one of the members said. There were no specific answers to the current
state of the Indian economy post the pandemic. “They claimed that India should become an
export-based economy without actually laying down the ______________ (45) on how the
country is going about it. It was a ______________ (46) statement,” another member said.

211
The Niti Aayog officials, sources said, have assured that a separate presentation would be
made about the same.
Q42.
(a) Equated
(b) Impeded
(c) Obscured
(d) Profuse
(e) Ideated
Q43.
(a) Impose
(b) Praise
(c) Fecundate
(d) Equivalent
(e)Anxious
Q44.
(a) Perturbed
(b) Unrivalled
(c) Lambasted
(d) Flipped
(e) Disparaged
Q45.
(a) Plights
(b) Dilemmas
(c) Specifics
(d) Impostors
(e) Prevaricates
Q46.
(a) Amended
(b) Incursion
(c) Submissive
(d) Remnant
(e) Rhetorical

212
India’s ______________ (47) for 5G is going to be overpowering and therefore businesses

must play a proactive role in creating a ‘desi 5G model’ that is inclusive and supportive of
healthcare, education and farming, urged Ravi Shankar Prasad. He said India had missed
opportunities around 2G and 3G but wouldn’t want to ______________ (48) on 5G.
Therefore, the country has developed an Indian test bed involving the IITs so that all
innovative aspects of 5G could be explored. “Indian players must be ______________ (49)
in creating an inclusive Indian 5G model as the country’s appetite for mobile technology is
going to be so huge,” he said while speaking at the India Digital Summit organised by the
Internet and Mobile Association of India on Tuesday. On the response to the Centre’s
Production-Linked Incentive Scheme, he said, “All the top companies have applied and they
have ______________ (50) to making mobile phones and equipment worth ₹10 lakh crore
in the country in the next 5 years out of which ₹7 lakh crore will be meant for exports,” he
added. “We have become the second-biggest mobile manufacturer in the world, and it is my
______________ (51) to make India number one.
Q47.
(a) Abundant
(b) Exculpate
(c) Slack
(d) Palatable
(e) Appetite
Q48.
(a) Miss out
(b) Make into
(c) Mail out
(d) Mix up
(e) Mock up
Q49.
(a) Sluggish
(b) Optional

213
(c) Mandatory
(d) Proactive
(e) Stature
Q50.
(a) Alleviated
(b) Committed
(c) Harassed
(d) Appeased
(e) Enhanced
Q51.
(a) Order
(b) Pardon
(c) Wish
(d) Begin
(e) Access
The pillars of government have never been on such wanton ______________ (52) as now.
But we should not be shocked. Seldom have we so ______________ (53) persuaded
ourselves that this daily plucking and plunder of who we are, this diminution from citizen to
subject, is for our own great good; that somehow, complaining or protesting about it,
demanding our rights and our rightful place, is an act of ______________ (54). It is as if we
have been guilt-tripped into unqualified ______________ (55) of a Lord we have long sinned
against by shunning; now must follow the penance of prostration. Day after day, knot upon
rigid knot, we get ______________ (56) tighter in the coils of what would be deemed
shocking in any civil society. But we aren’t a civil society; civil society is what we
______________ (57) along barricades and gas and shoot. It is what we pick names for
from the thesaurus of ______________ (58), civil society is what we lock behind bars and
toss the keys beyond the reach of appeal or reason or law or justice, or, very often, all of
them combined. Our civilities we pawned off to purchase the secure servility of
______________ (59) propaganda hashtags. We should not be shocked at how we have

214
come to be led. We should not be shocked that we have come under the ______________
(60) arrangements of deranged despots who we would read about in the comfort that it all
happened somewhere far away, not here, no way. We should not be shocked that it is
happening here, brought to us live on the hyper-cacophony of our television screens, our
______________ (61) presented to us as the armour of democracy.
Q52.
(a) Impute
(b) Jovial
(c) Pillage
(d) Knave
(e) Insipid
Q53.
(a) Fervently
(b) Grisly
(c) Leisurely
(d) Unlikely
(e) Melancholy
Q54.
(a) Investigation
(b) Resolution
(c) Misrepresentative
(d) Dysfunction
(e) Sedition
Q55.
(a) Emetic
(b) Temporize
(c) Obeisance
(d) Unimpeachable
(e) Smattering
Q56.

215
(a) Seemed
(b) Preoccupied
(c) Bewildered
(d) Looped
(e) Hackney
Q57.
(a) Vapid
(b) Heckle
(c) Spate
(d) Masticate
(e) Indite
Q58.
(a) Profanities
(b) Amenities
(c) Personalities
(d) Niceties
(e) Proclivities
Q59.
(a) Cultured
(b) Impoverished
(c) Hectored
(d) Scattered
(e) Composed
Q60.
(a) Civilian
(b)Luxuriant
(c) Patrician
(d) Antediluvian
(e) Brilliance

216
Q61.
(a) Shackles
(b) Penitence
(c) Detains
(d) Censures
(e) Obdurate
Direction(62-69): In the following passage, some of the words have been highlighted
the highlighted words with the correct options in order to make the paragraph
grammatically and contextually correct. In case the highlighted word is correct as it
is, mark 'No replacement required' as the right answer.
Cheetahs are back in India for the first time in more than 70 years. They are, however, not
the Asiatic variety that once ___M___dissipated large parts of the country — the species
was declared extinct in India in 1952, a victim of ____N____unabridged hunting and habitat
loss. Less than 100 of these animals survive in Iran today. On Saturday, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi released eight ____O____greenhorns of the African species at the Kuno
sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The animals were flown in from Namibia, which today has
the highest cheetah population. The translocation has triggered a debate amongst
conservation scientists with a section amongst them arguing that the 750 sq-km national
park could limit the movement of the animals that prefer a much larger range. But others do
not take such a ____P____reassuring view and point to the cheetah’s adaptability across a
range of habitats. PM Modi referred to the African big cats as the country’s guests. It’s up to
the wildlife authorities to help these cheetahs make Kuno their home.
One of the ____Q____spinoffs of this debate is the spotlight wildlife-related issues have
received in the past few days. The introduction of the new species has led to conversations
on human-animal conflict — a problem that doesn’t always get the attention it requires.
Some of the successes of India’s wildlife protection programme have come at a cost. In
several parts of the country today, humans and protected species live in
____R____receptivity. Crop _____S_____fosterage and attacks on livestock — even
humans — have become common. Only recently have studies begun to be undertaken on
the carrying capacity of national parks and sanctuaries. They are yet to be used in a
meaningful manner to restore a _____T____semblance of harmony between wildlife and
people living in the vicinity of the protected areas (PAs).

217
loss.
62. M
a. roamed
b. rambled
c. meandered
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. No

replacement required
loss.
63. N
a. unchecked
b. unbridled
c. ungoverned


218
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight ____O____greenhorns of the

African species at the Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
64. O
a. neophytes
b. cubs
c. offsprings

But others do not take such a ____P____reassuring view and point to the cheetah’s
adaptability across a range of habitats.
65. P
a. defeatist
b. downbeat
c. cynical

received in the past few days.
66. Q
a. layoffs
b. payoffs
c. kickbacks


219
In several parts of the country today, humans and protected species live in
____R____receptivity.
67. R
a. proximity
b. propinquity
c. vicinity

Crop _____S_____fosterage and attacks on livestock — even humans — have become

common.
68. S
a. depredation
b. plundering
c. rearing

They are yet to be used in a meaningful manner to restore a _____T____semblance of

harmony between wildlife and people living in the vicinity of the protected areas (PAs).
69. T
a. discrepancy
b. misalliance
c. keynote

220

Level - Easy
Directions(70-79): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out,
With inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, in August going back to 7 per cent,
and the wholesale price index coming in at 12.4 per cent, one thing is clear: India is not out
of the _____M_____ on inflation management. If the September inflation remains higher
than the RBI’s upper tolerance band of 6 per cent, the central bank, especially its monetary
policy committee (MPC) members, will have to _____N____ to the Centre, and in a way to
the nation, why it has _____O_____ to keep inflation below 6 per cent for three consecutive
quarters. That’s as per the 2016 inflation targeting policy. The ______P______ of the RBI
and its MPC members will be at _____Q______.
However, these are not normal times. First Covid-19 hit the world, then the Russia and
Ukraine conflict _____R_____, and now climate change (heat wave) is impacting global
commodity prices. In an _____S____ world, it would be ____T____ to look at India’s
performance in relation to other major countries. In comparison with, say, the US and most
European countries, where inflation is a tad higher (8 to 12 per cent) and GDP growth likely
to be much lower, India has done fairly well. India is certainly much better placed than
countries like Turkey where inflation in July was ______U______ at 80 per cent, or our
neighbours — Pakistan, with inflation at 27 per cent, and Sri Lanka at 64 per cent. On
average, even compared to the country’s past record, say during the UPA period (2004-05 to
2013-14), when inflation averaged 7.9 per cent (and GDP growth was at 7.7 per cent), India
has done _____V_____ well during the NDA period (2014-15 to 2022-23) with 5.1 per cent
inflation but has done poorer on GDP growth at 5.6 per cent.

221
With inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, in August going back to 7 per cent,
and the wholesale price index coming in at 12.4 per cent, one thing is clear: India is not out
of the _____M_____ on inflation management.
70. M
a. woods
b. window
c. red
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b D. Only c E. None of a, b and c
If the September inflation remains higher than the RBI’s upper tolerance band of 6 per cent,
the central bank, especially its monetary policy committee (MPC) members, will have to
_____N____ to the Centre,
71. N
a. delineate
b. elucidate
c. obscure

and c
and in a way to the nation, why it has _____O_____ to keep inflation below 6 per cent for
three consecutive quarters.
72. O
a. miscarried
b. lofted
c. flunked

and c

222
The ______P______ of the RBI and its MPC members will be at _____Q_____.
73. P
a. credibility
b. plausibility
c. standing

and c
The ______P______ of the RBI and its MPC members will be at _____Q_____.
74. Q
a. stake
b. jeopardy
c. risk

and c
However, these are not normal times. First Covid-19 hit the world, then the Russia and
Ukraine conflict _____R_____, and now climate change (heat wave) is impacting global
commodity prices.
75. R
a. broke out
b. flared up
c. set in

and c

223
In an _____S____ world, it would be ____T____ to look at India’s performance in relation to

other major countries.
76. S
a. interconnected
b. interrelated
c. interlinked

and c
In an _____S____ world, it would be ____T____ to look at India’s performance in relation to

other major countries.
77. T
a. ludicrous
b. cogent
c. judicious

and c
India is certainly much better placed than countries like Turkey where inflation in July was
______U______ at 80 per cent, or our neighbours — Pakistan, with inflation at 27 per cent,
and Sri Lanka at 64 per cent.
78. U
a. raging
b. being at its height
c. rampaging

and c

224
On average, even compared to the country’s past record, say during the UPA period
(2004-05 to 2013-14), when inflation averaged 7.9 per cent (and GDP growth was at 7.7 per
cent), India has done _____V_____ well during the NDA period (2014-15 to 2022-23) with
5.1 per cent inflation but has done poorer on GDP growth at 5.6 per cent.
79. V
a. fairly
b. passably
c. somewhat
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
Level - Moderate
Direction(80-87): In the following passage, some of the words have been highlighted
the highlighted words with the correct options in order to make the paragraph
grammatically and contextually correct. In case the highlighted word is correct as it
is, mark 'No replacement required' as the right answer.
loss. Less than 100 of these animals survive in Iran today. On Saturday, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi released eight ____O____greenhorns of the African species at the Kuno
sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The animals were flown in from Namibia, which today has
the highest cheetah population. The translocation has triggered a debate amongst
conservation scientists with a section amongst them arguing that the 750 sq-km national
park could limit the movement of the animals that prefer a much larger range. But others do
not take such a ____P____reassuring view and point to the cheetah’s adaptability across a

225
range of habitats. PM Modi referred to the African big cats as the country’s guests. It’s up to
the wildlife authorities to help these cheetahs make Kuno their home.
received in the past few days. The introduction of the new species has led to conversations
on human-animal conflict — a problem that doesn’t always get the attention it requires.
Some of the successes of India’s wildlife protection programme have come at a cost. In
several parts of the country today, humans and protected species live in
____R____receptivity. Crop _____S_____fosterage and attacks on livestock — even
humans — have become common. Only recently have studies begun to be undertaken on
the carrying capacity of national parks and sanctuaries. They are yet to be used in a
meaningful manner to restore a _____T____semblance of harmony between wildlife and
people living in the vicinity of the protected areas (PAs).
loss.
80. M
a. roamed
b. rambled
c. meandered

loss.

226
81. N
a. unchecked
b. unbridled
c. ungoverned

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight ____O____greenhorns of the

African species at the Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
82. O
a. neophytes
b. cubs
c. offsprings

But others do not take such a ____P____reassuring view and point to the cheetah’s
adaptability across a range of habitats.
83. P
a. defeatist
b. downbeat
c. cynical


227
received in the past few days.
84. Q
a. layoffs
b. payoffs
c. kickbacks

In several parts of the country today, humans and protected species live in
____R____receptivity.
85. R
a. proximity
b. propinquity
c. vicinity

Crop _____S_____fosterage and attacks on livestock — even humans — have become

common.
86. S
a. depredation
b. plundering
c. rearing


228
They are yet to be used in a meaningful manner to restore a _____T____semblance of

harmony between wildlife and people living in the vicinity of the protected areas (PAs).
87. T
a. discrepancy
b. misalliance
c. keynote

In a ____M____ but much-delayed move, the National Technical Advisory Group on

Immunisation has recommended reducing the minimum gap between two Covishield does
from 12 weeks to 8 weeks; the maximum _____N_____ is unchanged at 16 weeks.
Reportedly, the Centre is also evaluating the need to expand the booster programme. As we
have argued repeatedly, this is _____O_____. Although _____P_____ Covid cases and
deaths in India are at a two-year low, global Covid cases have surged by 4% in the last
seven days. The current fall in Indian Covid numbers should therefore be no basis for
_____Q______.
Around 81% of Indians over 15 have been ______R______ by the two doses, while around
96% have received at least one shot. In absolute terms, therefore, the number of adults yet
to take the second dose is not small, and the new Covishield interval will help. Also note that
by May 20, of India’s estimated 345 million people above the age of 45, around 53% who
have received their second shot will complete six months. This likely means they may have
little to no _____S_____ going forward.

229
In a ____M____ but much-delayed move, the National Technical Advisory Group on

Immunisation has recommended reducing the minimum gap between two Covishield does
from 12 weeks to 8 weeks;
88. M
a. correct
b. fallacious
c. distorted
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
the maximum _____N_____ is unchanged at 16 weeks. Reportedly, the Centre is also

evaluating the need to expand the booster programme.
89. N
a. interim
b. interlude
c. meantime

and c
Reportedly, the Centre is also evaluating the need to expand the booster programme. As we
have argued repeatedly, this is _____O_____.
90. O
a. sagacious
b. prudent
c. extravagant

and c

230
Although _____P_____ Covid cases and deaths in India are at a two-year low, global Covid
cases have surged by 4% in the last seven days.
91. P
a. primordial
b. fresh
c. latter-day

and c
The current fall in Indian Covid numbers should therefore be no basis for _____Q______.
92. Q
a. solace
b. affliction
c. contentment

and c
Around 81% of Indians over 15 have been ______R______ by the two doses, while around
96% have received at least one shot. In absolute terms, therefore, the number of adults yet
to take the second dose is not small, and the new Covishield interval will help.
93. Q
a. covered
b. encrusted
c. indemnified

and c

231
Also note that by May 20, of India’s estimated 345 million people above the age of 45,
around 53% who have received their second shot will complete six months. This likely
means they may have little to no _____S_____ going forward.
94. S
a. shielding
b. hedge
c. bulwark

and c
So far Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, UP, Delhi, Mumbai and Ladakh are among the territories
where wearing masks have been made mandatory. The possibility of ____M____ penalties
for violations are being explored. China had taken this course. But in the Indian ____N____
it may be good for civic bodies to start with offering free and ____O____ supply of masks.
This would ensure that a critical mass starts wearing masks and ____P____ others to also
adopt the practice. Generating awareness is a key step in triggering a _____Q_____ shift
because many people still remain _____R_____ and resist the idea of wearing masks.
The possibility of ____M____ penalties for violations are being explored. China had taken
this course.
95. M
a. invoking

232
b. waiving
c. renouncing
A. Only b B. Only b and c C. Only a and b D. Only a E. All a, b and c
China had taken this course. But in the Indian ____N____ it may be good for civic bodies to
start with offering free and ____O____ supply of masks.
96. N
a. context
b. clime
c. backdrop
A. Only b B. Only b and c C. Only a and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c
China had taken this course. But in the Indian ____N____ it may be good for civic bodies to
start with offering free and ____O____ supply of masks.
97. O
a. exiguous
b. plentiful
c. copious
This would ensure that a critical mass starts wearing masks and ____P____ others to also
adopt the practice.
98. P
a. fends off
b. prods

233
c. dissuades
Generating awareness is a key step in triggering a _____Q_____ shift because many

people still remain _____R_____ and resist the idea of wearing masks.
99. Q
a. material
b. corporal
c. behavioural
A. Only b B. Only a and b C. Only a and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
Generating awareness is a key step in triggering a _____Q_____ shift because many

people still remain _____R_____ and resist the idea of wearing masks.
100. R
a. holdouts
b. wannabes
c. getters
A. Only b B. Only a and b C. Only a and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c
In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated
by a letter. Find the suitable word from the options given against each letter and fill in the
blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningful.
The Premier League's ____A____ global appeal has seen ____B____ stadiums across the
world this summer - with fans spread across various continents getting to see their heroes in
real life.
After two years of Covid-restricted travel, most clubs in the English top flight chose to play
matches overseas on money-spinning tours, while some ____C___ for more low-key

234
training camps abroad.
But after calls for sport to use the pandemic as a chance to ___D_____ around its role in
climate impact, the return to ___E____ amounts of plane travel has raised questions on the
cost to the environment.
real life.
101. Find the required answer for the blank A?

a. unequalled
b. unparalleled
c. unrivalled
A. Only a
B. Both b and c
C. Both a and b
D. Only b
E. All a, b and c
real life.
102. Find the required answer for the blank B?

a. borne out
b. torn out
c. sold out
A. Only a
B. Both b and c
C. Both a and b
D. Only c
E. All a, b and c
After two years of Covid-restricted travel, most clubs in the English top flight chose to play
matches overseas on money-spinning tours, while some ____C___ for more low-key

235
training camps abroad.
103. Find the required answer for the blank C?

a. opted
b. chose
c. mentioned
A. Only a
B. Both b and c
C. Both a and b
D. Only b
E. All a, b and c
104. Find the required answer for the blank D?

a. flex
b. reset
c. round
A. Only a
B. Both b and c
C. Both a and b
D. Only b
E. All a, b and c
105. Find the required answer for the blank E?

a. vast
b. huge
c. big
A. Only a
B. Both b and c

236
C. Both a and b
D. Only b
E. All a, b and c
Direction(106-110): In the following question, a passage is given with some of its part
missing. The missing parts are denoted by blanks. Fill in the blanks with
APPROPRIATE IDIOMATIC PHRASES.
India’s industrial output rose 7.1 per cent year-on-year in April. Coming after a 11.4 per cent
increase for the whole of 2021-22, it _______M________, albeit from the negative growth of
the preceding lockdown-impacted fiscal. __________N_________, however, is consumer
non-durables production growing by just 0.3 per cent in April, on top of 3.3 per cent for
2021-22. The National Statistical Office’s data tallies with what private consumer research
firms have also been putting out. NielsenIQ has estimated India’s fast-moving consumer
goods (FMCG) sector to have registered minus 4.1 per cent year-on-year volume growth in
January-March, minus 2.6 per cent in October-December, and 1.4 per cent in
July-September. Kantar Worldpanel has reported volume contraction in the country’s FMCG
market _________O__________. Even the market leader Hindustan Unilever posted a 10.4
per cent sales turnover jump for the January-March quarter, but “with flat underlying volume
growth”.
The simple takeaway is that the ___________P__________, although paying more for the
same, if not less, volume of groceries and essentials. One reason is inflation. Most market
surveys suggest high price increases to have impacted discretionary as well as staple
consumption. While consumers are either cutting down on purchases or opting for
lower-priced/ non-premium/unbranded products, FMCG firms have sought to push sales of
smaller packs and even undertake “grammage reductions”. In other words, passing on
soaring costs — whether of palm oil, wheat or packaging material — not through explicit
price hikes, but by decreasing product weight/size for the same price points. There are
limitations to such stratagems. Individual companies may __________Q_________ ahead
of the market, gaining both value and volume shares. But even they would want the market
itself to expand, rather than resorting to “shrinkflation” or consumers “downtrading” and
“titrating” volumes.

237
India’s industrial output rose 7.1 per cent year-on-year in April. Coming after a 11.4 per cent
increase for the whole of 2021-22, it _______M________, albeit from the negative growth of
the preceding lockdown-impacted fiscal.
106. M
a. is evidence of a turn for the better
b. is symptomatic of a return to health
c. testifies to falling to pieces

and c
__________N_________, however, is consumer non-durables production growing by just

0.3 per cent in April, on top of 3.3 per cent for 2021-22. The National Statistical Office’s data
tallies with what private consumer research firms have also been putting out.
107. N
a. What's on tenterhooks
b. What's getting us worked up
c. What's causing us to be a bundle of nerves

and c
NielsenIQ has estimated India’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector to have
registered minus 4.1 per cent year-on-year volume growth in January-March, minus 2.6 per
cent in October-December, and 1.4 per cent in July-September. Kantar Worldpanel has
reported volume contraction in the country’s FMCG market _________O__________.
108. O
a. for the last three quarters on the trot
b. for the last three quarters on a row
c. for the last three quarters now and then
A. Only a and b B. Only c C. Only a D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

238
The simple takeaway is that the ___________P__________, although paying more for the
same, if not less, volume of groceries and essentials.
109. P
a. Indian end user is getting his/her hands on less volume of groceries and essentials
b. Indian purchaser is getting his/her mitts on less volume of groceries and essentials
c. Indian consumer is getting hold of less volume of groceries and essentials

and c
There are limitations to such stratagems. Individual companies may

__________Q_________ ahead of the market, gaining both value and volume shares. But
even they would want the market itself to expand, rather than resorting to “shrinkflation” or
consumers “downtrading” and “titrating” volumes.
110. Q
a. truncate in a way of moment
b. make headway in a way that's worthy of attention
c. go great guns

and c
Level - HARD
Direction(111-117): In the passage below, there are THREE BLANKS in some of the
lines. There will be A PREPOSITION, A WORD and AN IDIOM/PHRASE. Choose the
right combination(s) for each line.

239
“Can the one who drained a tank to build a house now fear the flood?” The Kannada poet
Sarvagna had the prescience to ask this in a 17th-century vachana. Can we dream of a
better Bengaluru without its tanks and tank beds? Or is that a contradiction in terms?
Among the _____________ jokes generated ____ the recent watery __________ were the
unintended ones. Why ____________ ______ Bengaluru’s challenging road network for
Ganesha visarjan when the flood water __________ came to the doorstep? Meanwhile, the
government and its trusted spokespersons, including some leading architects,
____________ to point out that all _____ Bengaluru was not ___________ by the floods,
and this was, anyway, an extreme climate event. Yet if this disaster should teach us
anything, it is about dogged and growing inequalities. Year after year, areas like Eijipura and
National Games Village in Koramangala face the brunt of the monsoon fury. Nothing is
_______________ from these annual events because they are areas inhabited _____ the
poor, or relatively less _________.
At least 26 of Bengaluru’s 28 MLAs have listed “business” or “real estate” as their sources of
income, and they are among the richest in the country. We have come a long way from the
1950s and 1960s when working-class housing was a key concern in city planning
documents. We have travelled far away from the 1970s and 1980s, when M S Krishnan of
the CPI _________ working-class interests in the Mysore/Karnataka Legislative Assembly
and ______________ all his personal funds _____ the party. We inhabit the moment when
“claims” to the city by people like ‘Layout’ Krishnappa and M T B Nagaraj are rewarded with
seats — and ministerships — in the Assembly. IT and BT uber alles but the bourgeoisie
does not seem able to run this city.
Clearly, we cannot expect our political class to ____________ the first ________ _____
town planning — intergenerational responsibility. Consider the most important feature of the
elevated city of Bengaluru, which is not close to a natural water source — its human-made
tanks. There has been a legendary link between the tank, the temple and the market garden
in this city, _______ its very __________ in the 16th century and this link is symbolically
consecrated and __________________ every April in the city’s most important civic festival
— the Karaga. Yet, only mushrooming, illegal shrines and temples remain as a deformed
element of that urban form. Sampangi “tank”, which the Karaga must visit at the start of the
festivities, is a tiny symbolic waterhole.

240
Among the _____________ jokes generated ____ the recent watery __________ were the
unintended ones.
111. Which of the following combinations of AN IDIOM, A PREPOSITION and A WORD

can fit in the blanks in the above statement respectively?
a. top-hole, by, debacle

b. out of this world, by, fiasco
c. second-fiddle, through, drawback

and c
Why ____________ ______ Bengaluru’s challenging road network for Ganesha visarjan
when the flood water __________ came to the doorstep?

a. make one's way, through, accommodatingly

b. wend one's way, across, obligingly
c. take a trip, via, willingly

and c
Meanwhile, the government and its trusted spokespersons, including some leading
architects, ____________ to point out that all _____ Bengaluru was not ___________ by
the floods, and this was, anyway, an extreme climate event.


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a. were at pains, of, perturbed

b. bursted a blood vessel, of, shaken up
c. went to great pain, throughout, affected

and c
Nothing is _______________ from these annual events because they are areas inhabited
_____ the poor, or relatively less _________.

a. known inside out, by, well-to-do

b. known backwards, along, well-off
c. read up on, by, well-heeled

and c
We have travelled far away from the 1970s and 1980s, when M S Krishnan of the CPI
_________ working-class interests in the Mysore/Karnataka Legislative Assembly and
______________ all his personal funds _____ the party.
115. Which of the following combinations of A WORD, AN IDIOM and A PREPOSITION

a. represented, stumped up, to

b. spoke for, shelled out, to
c. acted for, chipped in, to

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and c
Clearly, we cannot expect our political class to ____________ the first ________ _____
town planning — intergenerational responsibility.
116. Which of the following combinations of AN IDIOM, A WORD and A PREPOSITION

a. act in accordance with, principle, of

b. give the brush-off to, rule, of
c. bear in mind, fundamental, of

and c
There has been a legendary link between the tank, the temple and the market garden in this
city, _______ its very __________ in the 16th century and this link is symbolically
consecrated and __________________ every April in the city’s most important civic festival
— the Karaga.
117. Which of the following combinations of A PREPOSITION, A WORD and AN IDIOM

a. from, outset, borne in mind

b. to, beginning, thought back to
c. from, inception, put a name to

and c
ANSWER

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1.Ans. (c)
Sol. ‘’stringent” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
2.Ans. (e)
Sol. “Improved” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
meaningful. Hence, option (e) is the right answer choice.
3.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Jump” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
4.Ans. (b)
Sol. “simple” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
5.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Burden” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
meaningful. Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
6.Ans. (a)
Sol. “traction” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
7. Ans. (e)
Sol. “Volatile” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
Volatile: liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.
8. Ans. (b)
Sol. “Cautioned” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
Cautioned: say something as a warning.
9. Ans. (c)
Sol. “Hesitancy” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph

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Hesitancy: the quality or state of being hesitant.
10.Ans. (e)
Sol. “stampede” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
Stampede: To rush in(to some place) all at once and in, or as if in, a wild panic.
-To rush due to some particular catalyst or reason.
11. Ans. (c)

Sol. “Vertiginous” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
Vertiginous: extremely high or steep.
12.Ans. (b)
Sol. “Eked out” is the appropriate word to fill up the blanks and make the paragraph
Eked out: to make up for the deficiencies of : supplement
Eat up: If something eats up your time or money, you spend a lot of time or money on it.
Embark on: to begin something, usually something that will be challenging and
time-consuming
Engage in: to become involved in something related to competition or conflict, such as a
debate, a battle, or a dispute.
Entrust to: to give somebody responsibility for something of importance or value
13. Ans. (c)

Sol. “Connotation’ is wrong. “Intervention” should be used instead of “connotation” in
order to make grammatical and contextual sense. Hence, option (c) is the right answer
choice.
Connotation: an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or
primary meaning.
Intervention: the action of becoming intentionally involved in a difficult situation, in order to
improve it or prevent it from getting worse
14.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Vitiated” should be used instead of “Constituted” in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense. Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
Constituted: be (a part) of a whole.
Vitiated: spoiled or impaired the quality or efficiency of.

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- to make faulty or defective
15.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Stance” should be used instead of “Appeal” in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense. Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
Stance: the attitude of a person or organization towards something; a standpoint.
Appeal: make a serious, urgent, or heartfelt request.
16.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Thrust” should be used instead of “Dwelled” in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense. Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
Dwell: think moodily or anxiously about something
Thrust: push suddenly or violently in a specified direction.
17.Ans. (e)
Sol. The given word is correct and needs no improvement. Hence, option (e) is the right
answer choice.
18.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Backing” should be used instead of “Insisting” in order to make grammatical and
19.Ans. (e)
Sol. The given sentence is correct and needs no improvement. Hence, option (e) is the right
answer choice.
Subjugation: the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control.
20.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Nuanced” should be used instead of “Variations” in order to make grammatical and
Nuanced: a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
set upon / laced into - attacked.

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despondency - low spirits from loss of hope or courage; dejection.
toned down - eased.

light-heartedness - carefreeness.)
All phrasal verbs mean - to realize.
'loneliness' is contextually incorrect.
fellowship - companionship.)
sign on with / take on - hire or rent.
boot out - to sack or lay off.

perfunctory - carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort.)
24. Ans. (a)

Sol. “completion” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
25.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Boasted” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
26.Ans. (d)
Sol. ‘Transfer” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
27.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Ratify” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph meaningful.
28. Ans. (c)

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Sol. “Hostility” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
29.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Dismayed” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
30. Ans. (e)

Sol. “Rankled” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
31. Ans. (a)

Sol. “hint” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and contextual
sense.
32. Ans. (c)

Sol. “Transition” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense.
33.Ans. (b)
Sol. “Mature” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and contextual
sense.
34.Ans. (b)
Sol. “Creation” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and contextual
sense.
35.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Development” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and
contextual sense.
36.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Channel” will replace the highlighted word in order to make grammatical and contextual
sense.
37.Ans. (c)
Sol. Both the words in option (c) can fit in the blank to make the paragraph meaningful.

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38.Ans. (e)
Sol. Both the words in option (e) can fit in the blank to make the paragraph meaningful.
39.Ans. (b)
Sol. Both the words in option (b) can fit in the blank to make the paragraph meaningful.
40.Ans. (d)
Sol. Both the words in option (d) can fit in the blank to make the paragraph meaningful.
41.Ans. (b)
Sol. Both the words in option (b) can fit in the blank to make the paragraph meaningful.
42. Ans. (a)

Sol. “Equated” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
43.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Equivalent” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
44.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Lambasted” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
45. Ans. (c)

Sol. “Specifics” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
46.Ans. (e)
Sol. “Rhetorical” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
47.Ans. (e)

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Sol. “appetite” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
48. Ans. (a)

Sol. “Miss out” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
49.Ans. (d)
Sol. “proactive” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
50.Ans. (b)
Sol. “Committed” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
51.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Wish” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph meaningful.
52.Ans. (c)
Sol. “pillage” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph meaningful.
Impute: represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done or
possessed by someone; attribute.
Jovial: cheerful and friendly.
Pillage: rob a (place) using violence, especially in wartime.
Knave: a dishonest or unscrupulous man.
Insipid: lacking flavour; weak or tasteless.
53.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Fervently” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Fervently: very enthusiastically or passionately.
Grisly: causing horror or disgust.
Leisurely: acting or done at leisure; unhurried or relaxed.
Unlikely: not likely to happen, be done, or be true; improbable.

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Melancholy: a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
54. Ans. (e)

Sol. “Sedition” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or
monarch.
55.Ans. (c)
Sol. “Obeisance” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Emetic: a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting
Temporize: draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time
Obeisance: a gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsy.
Unimpeachable: beyond doubt or reproach
Smattering: a small number or amount
56.Ans. (d)
Sol. “Looped” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph meaningful.
Seemed: give the impression of being something or having a particular quality.
Preoccupied: engrossed in thought; distracted.
Bewilderment: a feeling of being perplexed and confused. Looped: form (something) into a
loop or loops; encircle.
Hackney: repeated too often; over familiar through overuse
57.Ans. (b)
Sol. “Heckle” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph meaningful.
Vapid: lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest
Spate: A large number or amount or extent
Masticate: bite or grind with the teeth
Indite: Produce a little work
58.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Profanities” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Profanities: blasphemous or obscene language.
Amenities: a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.

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Proclivities: a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition

towards a particular thing.
Niceties: a fine or subtle detail or distinction.
59. Ans. (c)

Sol. “Hectored” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Cultured: characterized by refined taste and manners and good education.
Impoverished: (of a person or area) made poor.
Scattered: occurring or found at intervals or various locations rather than all together.
Hectored: talked to (someone) in a bullying way.
Composed: having one's feelings and expression under control; calm
60. Ans. (d)

Sol. “Antediluvian” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Civilian: a person not in the armed services or the police force.
Luxuriant: (of vegetation) rich and profuse in growth; lush.
Patrician: an aristocrat or nobleman.
Antediluvian: ridiculously old-fashioned.
Brilliance: exceptional talent or intelligence.
61.Ans. (a)
Sol. “Shackles” is the appropriate word to fill in the blank and make the paragraph
meaningful.
Shackles: restrain; limit.
Penitence: the action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong;
repentance.
Detains: keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their
attention.
Censures: express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal
statement.
Obdurate: stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
All mean - travel unsystematically over, through, or about (a place).
dissipate - disappear or cause to disappear.)

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All mean - (especially of something undesirable) not controlled or restrained.
unabridged - (of a text) not cut or shortened; complete.)
cub / offspring - the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.
neophyte / greenhorn - a person who is new to a subject or activity.)
All mean - pessimistic or negative.
reassuring - optimistic.)
66.(Answer - E. No replacement required
spinoff - a by-product or incidental result of a larger project.
layoff - a temporary or permanent discharge of a worker or workers.
payoff - a payment made to someone, especially as a bribe or on leaving a job.
kickback - a sudden forceful recoil.)
All mean - nearness in space, time, or relationship.
receptivity - willingness to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas.)

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a and b - an act of attacking or looting.
rearing - cultivation.
fosterage - the action of bringing up a child that is not one's own by birth.)
69. (Answer - E. No replacement required
semblance - a similarity to something, or the appearance of being or having something.
a and b - mismatch.
keynote - a prevailing tone or central theme.)
out of the woods - No longer in danger or dealing with a particular difficulty, though not
entirely resolved.
out of the window - Forgotten or disregarded; lost or wasted.
out of the red - No longer having a debt owed to one or more other people, corporations,
banks, etc.)
a and b - to explain.
obscure - keep from being seen; conceal.)

254
miscarry / flunk - to fail or be unsuccessful.
loft - kick, hit, or throw (a ball or missile) high up.)
All mean - the quality of being trusted and believed in; reputation.)
at stake / at risk / in jeopardy - In danger or at risk; imperiled.
Hence, 'at jeopardy' is INCORRECT.)
All mean - (of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly.)
All mean - having all constituent parts linked or connected.)
b and c - rational or logical.
ludicrous - irrational.)
All mean - continue with great force or intensity.)
79. (Answer - E. All a, b and c

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All mean - to a moderately high degree.)
All mean - travel unsystematically over, through, or about (a place).
dissipate - disappear or cause to disappear.)
All mean - (especially of something undesirable) not controlled or restrained.
unabridged - (of a text) not cut or shortened; complete.)
cub / offspring - the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.
neophyte / greenhorn - a person who is new to a subject or activity.)
All mean - pessimistic or negative.
reassuring - optimistic.)
spinoff - a by-product or incidental result of a larger project.
layoff - a temporary or permanent discharge of a worker or workers.
payoff - a payment made to someone, especially as a bribe or on leaving a job.

256
kickback - a sudden forceful recoil.)
All mean - nearness in space, time, or relationship.
receptivity - willingness to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas.)
a and b - an act of attacking or looting.
rearing - cultivation.
fosterage - the action of bringing up a child that is not one's own by birth.)
semblance - a similarity to something, or the appearance of being or having something.
a and b - mismatch.
keynote - a prevailing tone or central theme.)
fallacious / distorted - false or mistaken.)
interim / interlude / meantime - interval.)

257
sagacious / prudent - acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
extravagant - lacking restraint in spending money or using resources; imprudent.)
fresh / latter-day - recent.
primordial - existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.)
solace / contentment - comfort.
affliction - a cause of pain or harm.)
cover / indemnify - to protect or to secure.
encrust - cover or decorate (something) with a hard surface layer.)
shielding / hedge / bulwark - protection or safeguard.)
95.(Answer - D. Only a
invoke - to use a law in order to achieve something, or to mention something in order to

explain something or to support your opinion or action.
waive - refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim).

renounce - reject.)
96.(Answer - C. Only a and c

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context / backdrop - the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or
idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.
clime - a region considered with reference to its climate.

This word is irrelevant here.)
97.(Answer - B. Only b and c
plentiful / copious - abundant.
exiguous - very small in size or amount.)
98.(Answer - A. Only b
prod - to encourage.
fend off - defend oneself from a blow, attack, or attacker.
dissuade - persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action.)
99.(Answer - D. Only c
behavioural - related to behaviour.
corporal - physical.
material - physical.)
100. (Answer - D. Only a
holdout - a person who resists something or refuses to accept an offer.
wannabe - a person who tries to be like someone else or to fit in with a particular group of
people.
getter - a person or thing that gets a specified desirable thing.)

259
101.E
Solution: unrivalled: much better than any other of the same type.
All the given words are synonyms for one another.
102.D
Solution: Sold out: to sell all or part of your business.
torn out: designed to be easily torn out (doesn’t fit contextually)
borne out: support or confirm something. (doesn’t fit contextually)
103. C
Solution: Opted: to choose or decide to do or have something after thinking about it.
Mentioned: doesn’t fit contextually
104. D
Solution:Reset: set again or differently
Flex and round are contextually incorrect.
105. E
Solution: All are synonyms of one another.
be evidence of / be symptomatic of / testify to - point to or indicate.
return to health / a turn for the better - recovery.
falling to pieces - deterioration.)
be on tenterhooks - be worrying or worrisome.
get sb worked up - make sb worried.
a bundle of nerves - worried.)
on the trot - consecutively.

260
'in a row' is the correct idiom. It also means - consecutively.
now and then - at regular intervals.

This is inappropriate here.)
get one's hands on / get hold of / get one's mitts on - to buy.)
make headway - to grow or progress.

worthy of attention - significant.
of moment - significant.
go great guns - proceed vigorously, or successfully.
truncate - shorten the duration or extent of.)
top-hole / out of this world - excellent.
debacle / fiasco - catastrophe.
drawback - disadvantage.
second-fiddle - inferior.
These words/phrases don't make sense.)
All idioms mean - to journey.
All three prepositions can be used.

261
obligingly / willingly / accommodatingly - in a way that shows willingness to do a service

or kindness.
The author used this adverb ironically.)
be at pains / burst a blood vessel - To put forth effort toward some goal or end.
The correct idiom is - go to great pains.

'pain' is incorrect.
perturbed / shaken up - affected.)
know inside out / read up on / know backwards - to learn something properly.
well-off / well-to-do / well-heeled - wealthy.
'along' can't be used.

inhabited - occupied or lived in.)
speak for / act for - to represent.
stump up / shell out / chip in (Idioms) - to donate.)
act in accordance with / bear in mind - abide by or adhere to.
give the brush-off to - to deny or refuge.
principle, fundamental and rule - all are synonyms.)

262
outset / inception - beginning.
borne in mind / thought back to / put a name to - remembered.
'to' is an incorrect preposition.)
CHAPTER 7 - MISCELLANEOUS PATTERN
Directions(1-2): In each of the questions given below, four words are given in bold.
These four words may or may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then
followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each
other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the
correct combination of words that replace each other. If the sentence is correct as it
is, select ‘E’ as your option.
1. There needs to be tight (m)levels at multiple (n)oversight to ensure that (o)security is

not abused for reasons other than national (p)power.
A. Only m-o
B. Both m-o and n-p
C. Only n-o
D. Both m-n and o-p
2. The (m)passion of IPL, as measured by bids for (n)object rights, indicate that fans may
not be so rigid in identifying the (o)telecast of their (p)popularity.
A. Only m-p
B. Both m-o and n-p

263
C. Only m-p and n-o

D. Both m-n and o-p
Directions(3-5): In the following question, a sentence is given with THREE/FOUR

words marked as (M), (N), (O) {and (P)}. These words may or may not be placed at
their correct places. Four options with different arrangements of these words have
been provided. Mark the option with the correct arrangement as the answer. If no
rearrangement is required, mark option (E) as your answer.
3. In short, (M)foundation (N)finances from retail price of petrol and diesel are not the
(O)excise of government (P)collections.
A. POMN
B. OPMN
C. NPOM
D. ONMP
4. (M)Tools and (N)disagreements of violence completely disable all (O)threats for

debating (P)acts.
A. OPMN
B. PMNO
C. OMNP
D. PMNO
5. Moody’s Investors Service this week enhanced GoI’s (M)currency (N)risk from negative
to stable, it also affirmed Baa3 ratings for long-term loans in both domestic and foreign
(O)rating, indicative of moderate credit (P)outlook.
A. PMNO
B. MPON

264
C. OPMN
D. ONMP
Direction(6): In each of the questions below, a paragraph is given with certain

positions marked as (M), (N), (O) and (P). A sentence is given in bold after the
paragraph. Read the paragraph carefully and identify the position at which the given
sentence can be inserted. Mark the option containing that position as your answer.
The paragraph has a blank in the end. Choose a suitable sentence / sentences which
will fit in the blank in the end of the paragraph properly.
6. (M) On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for delinking the Union budget from
elections — the former’s importance “transcends our (political) differences”, he said. (N)
Even as elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa are around the
corner, the budget has refrained from measures that put more money in the hands of
people. (O) The outlay on MGNREGA has been slashed to Rs 73,000 crore, from Rs
1,11,700 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 98,000 crore in revised estimates (RE) for 2021-22. (P)
_______________________
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget for 2022-23 appears to take its cue
from the PM’s exhortation.
A. M B. N C. O D. P E. The sentence can fit nowhere
7:
(M) On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for delinking the Union budget from
elections — the former’s importance “transcends our (political) differences”, he said. (N)
Even as elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa are around the
corner, the budget has refrained from measures that put more money in the hands of

265
_______________________
7. Which of the following statements can fit in the blank in the above passage?
a. The focus of the budget, instead, has been on ramping up public sector capital
spending.
b. These investments can, in turn, stimulate demand for steel, cement, capital goods
and commercial vehicles.
c. This could arguably be a consequence of the recent protests by young people over
limited public employment.
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b D. Only a E. All a, b and c
8. Direction: In the question below, a paragraph is given with certain positions

marked as (M), (N), (O) and (P). A sentence is given in bold after the paragraph. Read
the paragraph carefully and identify the position at which the given sentence can be
inserted. Mark the option containing that position as your answer.
The Centre’s own capex for the coming fiscal is budgeted at Rs 7.5 lakh crore, which is Rs 2
lakh crore higher than the 2021-22 RE and more than double the Rs 3.36 lakh crore in
2019-20. (M) This step up in government expenditure in the form of investment as opposed
to consumption is bold, and welcome. (N) Bold, because it resists the temptation of raising
spending that can yield political dividends in the short term. (O) Welcome, because it looks
at the medium and long term. (P) __________________________
An announcement on hiking the annual PM-Kisan benefit amount to, say, Rs 9,000 per
farmer, would have certainly appealed to rural voters in the context of the upcoming
elections.

266
9. The Centre’s own capex for the coming fiscal is budgeted at Rs 7.5 lakh crore, which is
Rs 2 lakh crore higher than the 2021-22 RE and more than double the Rs 3.36 lakh crore in
Which of the following statements can fit in the blank in the above passage?
a. Any fiscal adventurism would, moreover, have backfired in the present global context.
b. This is going to act as a drag on private consumption for some time to come.
c. The Indian economy needs investments in roads, railways, mass transport, irrigation
and waterways that will boost productivity in the long run and reduce logistics costs.
Directions(10-12): In each of the following questions a short passage is given with

one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best
out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent
(coherent means logically complete and sound).
10. Some would argue that the chief minister's decision to block the governor of the state on
Twitter is mere grandstanding, with little real-world effects, and hence unimportant in the
larger scheme of things. But it must be remembered that ___________________________
a. the constitutional relationship between a chief minister and the governor is bound by
propriety and decorum.
b. even by the hyper-partisan standards of Twitter, a chief minister of a state blocking
the governor on a social media platform is bad form.
c. the use of social media platforms by politicians hasn't eroded the common or middle
ground of public spheres.

267
11. As with last year, the twin challenges this time were offering vital income support to poor
and vulnerable households _______________________, while stimulating broad-based
recovery in growth.
a. which have suffered greatly during the pandemic

b. which are intimately connected
c. which signifies almost certain hardship
12. The Assembly, which met in the morning adjourned abruptly, as the speaker, A P Kurian,
a motion for whose removal was listed first on the agenda, ________________________.
a. resigned to join the ranks of the opposition

b. convened immediately a meeting board to discuss his own intention to step down
c. made the dramatic announcement of his abdication
13. While the talks on a no-war pact are not making any headway, India and Pakistan
agreed to set up a joint commission to tackle bilateral problems. The suggestion to set up a
joint commission was made by the PM when Pakistan Foreign Minister Agha Shahi met her.
Shahi accepted the proposal immediately. While ____________________________.
a. details about the composition of the commission are yet to be discussed by the two
governments
b. every detail of the constitution of the commission was discussed precisely between
the two countries
c. both India and Pakistan have joint commission arrangements

268
Direction(14-17): Each of the questions below contains a sentence with three blanks,
indicating a preposition, a word and an idiom are missing. The sentence is then
followed by a table containing three prepositions, words and idioms in each column.
You have to choose the correct combination of preposition, word and idiom that'll fit
in those blanks respectively.
14. His _______ which were apparently made ___________ , have raised a storm ____
protest.
A. remarks D. off-the-cuff G. for
B. comments E. off-the-rack H. of
C. inputs F. off the hook I. in
A. ADH
B. BEH
C. CFG
D. BFI
15. In the middle of our ________ _____ my finances, my advisor went ___________ about
current events.
A. conversation D. of G. on a tangent
B. discussion E. about H. round the bend


269
C. conference F. for I. green around the gills
A. ADH
B. BEG
C. CFH
D. BFI
16. She finds herself with her ____________ now that creditors are coming ______ her for
more ______ than she makes.
A. up in arms D. for G. money
B. back to the wall E. after H. capital
C. up to no good F. with I. currency
A. ADH
B. BFG
C. CFI
D. BEG
17. My friend is the _____ athlete of our high school, so no matter what I succeed ___, he's
constantly _______________.
A. star D. for G. spilling the beans

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B. champion E. in H. taking the mickey
C. superstar F. of I. wearing my fingers to the

bone
A. ADH
B. BFG
C. CEI
D. BEG
Direction(18-20): In the question below, a pair of homophones is given, followed by

three sentences in each of which one of the two homophones will fit. From the
options below, choose the correct order of the homophones that will fit in the
sentences.
18.
A - stare
B - stair
a. She gave him a cold ______.

b. At the bottom _____, her feet kicked something firm but soft and nearly fell.
c. I did ______ him straight in the eye but he didn't recognize me.
A. BBA B. ABA C. AAB D. BAB E. None of the above options
19.
A - mown
B - moan
a. Their job was to rake the _______ corn ready for carting.
b. The noise sounded like a soft ______ and echoed through the silence.
c. The ______ of the wind in the chimneys was so audible.

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A. BBA B. ABA C. AAB D. ABB E. None of the above options
20.
A - nay
B - neigh
a. Permission to build the superstore will take months, nay years.

b. There was an alarmed stamping of hooves and a shrill neigh from the horse.
c. So I have until next week to give the final year or nay.
Direction(21-23): In the following question, a table is given with two columns. In

column I, three sentences are given with one blank in each of them. In column II, three
phrasal verbs are given. You've to choose the correct pairs of the statement and the
phrasal verb that will fit in that particular sentence correctly and make that sentence
contextually correct.
21.
Column I Column II
A. He had just enough money to D. get off

___________.
B. Have I managed to __________ how E. get by

much I love this song?
C. While most ___________ with a F. get across

warning, there is at least one case of
dismissal.

272
A. AE, BF and CD
B. AD, BE and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BD and CF
22.
Column I Column II
A. Undercover officers spent most of their D. hanging around

time ____________.
B. Only time will tell if the plan is E. holding out

successful, but I'm not _____________
much hope.
C. Instead of __________, the snow F. letting up

squalls intensified.
A. AE, BF and CD
B. AD, BE and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BD and CF
23.
Column I Column II
A. I want to _________ these plans with D. get on

273
you again.
B. That's enough hanging around, we E. go over

need to ________.
C. If you got in an argument with him, F. go off

he'd just ________.
A. AF, BE and CD
B. AE, BD and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BF and CD
Direction(24-27): In the following question, six sentences which are in their jumbled
form, are given. Further each sentence has a highlighted part, which may or may not
form a contextually meaningful sentence. You've to swap the highlighted part with the
other to make a contextually meaningful sentence and then rearrange those
sentences to make a contextually meaningful paragraph.
(a) A CBDC is a high-level inter-ministerial committee.
(b) Much interest has been generated by the Budget’s statement that RBI will issue pilot
projects on CBDC during 2022-23.
(c) Globally, digital rupees have been underway since 2014.
(d) Holders of CBDC can transfer money digitally instead of seemingly simple innovation.
(e) However, progress is slow because this handing over currency notes can have
unforeseen consequences.
(f) It’s a reiteration of a 2017 suggestion by GoI’s digital form of paper currency that asked
RBI to introduce its own central bank digital currency (CBDC).

274
24. With which of the following phrases must 'high-level inter-ministerial committee' be
interchanged to make the sentence grammatically and contextually meaningful?
A. digital form of paper currency

B. seemingly simple innovation
C. pilot projects on CBDC
D. digital rupees
25. With which of the following phrases must 'pilot projects on CBDC' be interchanged to
make the sentence grammatically and contextually meaningful?

B. seemingly simple innovation
C. handing over currency notes
D. digital rupees
26. With which of the following phrases must 'seemingly simple innovation' be
interchanged to make the sentence grammatically and contextually meaningful?

B. high-level inter-ministerial committee
C. handing over currency notes
D. digital rupees


275
A. f a d
B. a c e
C. b a c
D. b d e
Direction(28-29): In the following question, a situation is given, followed by three

options, each containing a few words/phrases that may or may not accurately
describe the situation. Choose the option(s) that correctly describe(s) the situation.
There is one more question associated with each of the situations. You've to answer
accordingly.
28.
Situation
Today’s the first weekend this year where many cities will see a semblance of the state of
being usual and normal. Unlike earlier occasions, states this time have not let weekend
restrictions linger even though daily new infections average around 2.5 lakh. It spells relief
for India’s contact-intensive businesses such as eateries which have been in a very difficult
situation. This sector has been among the worst hit over the last two years.
Which of the following words / phrases can be derived from the above paragraph?
a. normalcy, beleaguered
b. alleviation, take the edge off
c. aggravation, continuance

and c
29. Which of the following statements can logically follow the above situation?

276
The sentence must be in line with the last sentence of the paragraph.
a. The National Restaurant Association of India last year estimated that the
pandemic-induced lockdowns had put around 25% of restaurants out of business,
leading to retrenchment of about 2.4 million employees.
b. States during the Omicron wave raised their game by linking mobility restrictions to
the extent of stress on the healthcare infrastructure.
c. After living with the novel coronavirus for almost two years, people have developed a
sense of the associated risks.
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c
Directions(30-32): Identify the option that is similar in meaning to the phrase/idiom in

bold. If none of the options convey the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer.
30. After growing tired of Rohit's constant complaining, Shara decided to tell him a few
home truths about his bad attitude.
A. known facts
B. uncomfortable facts
C. rumoured facts
D. unconventional facts
31. Music and film are so linked to the fashion world, and you have to have an eye for
what's happening next.
A. be able to recognise
B. make some adjustments for
C. discount
D. be able to control
E. None of the options

277
32. We just want him to keep us in the picture with what's happening and what kind of deal
he's after.
A. not associated
B. informed
C. uninfluenced
D. Both A and C
Direction(33-36): In each of the questions below, two sentences are given with one
blank in each of them. The sentences are then followed by some words. You've to
choose the word that can fit in both the blanks contextually and grammatically.
33.
I. The ________ of relevant statistics is the primary problem.
II. I supervised the rehearsal in the ________ of the director.
a. absence
b. lack
c. want
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only b and c D. Only a and b E. All a, b and c
34.
I. The result is a significantly reduced total ______ of ownership for the storage
infrastructure.
II. Sometimes, early success is achieved at the ______ of a child's childhood.
a. cost
b. levy
c. fare
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only b and c D. Only a and b E. All a, b and c

278
35.
I. RBI and GoI need to ______ their positions to simultaneously support economic
growth.
II. I gave Michael's ear an affectionate last ______ before releasing it.
a. modify
b. twitch
c. tweak
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only b and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
36.
I. The forthcoming Union Budget needs to be framed in the _______ of the last two
years.
II. Skilled readers use _______ to construct meaning from words as they are read.
a. context
b. framework
c. structure
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only b and c D. Only c E. All a, b and c
Direction(37-40) : In each of the following questions a grammatically correct and

meaningful sentence is given with FOUR words given in bold in each. Which of the
following words should replace each other to form a meaningful and grammatically
correct sentence? The meaning can be different from the one in question.
37. A new (M)alliance of words between the two parties, partners who once had the longest
surviving (N)field, has brought an important (O)war to the fore in an already heated political
(P)dimension.

279
A. OMPN
B. MPON
C. ONMP
D. NPOM
38. There are recent (M)levels in the media about serious (N)rules of several state
governments on Government of India’s proposed move to amend the IAS service
(O)concerns to meet the shortage of officers at various (P)reports at the Centre.
A. NPOM
B. PONM
C. MPON
D. ONMP
39. The CPM-led Kerala government’s (M)powers to bring a (N)watchdog to limit the
(O)decision of the anti-corruption (P)decree is questionable.
A. MPON
B. PNMO
C. OPMN
D. ONMP
40. In 1950, Article 226 limited the (M)authorities of a high court to issue (N)jurisdiction
only to (O)writs resident within its (P)territory.
A. PONM
B. MPON

280
C. ONMP
D. NOMP
Direction(41-44): In each of the questions below, a paragraph is given with certain

positions marked as (M), (N), (O) and (P). A sentence is given in bold after the
paragraph. Read the paragraph carefully and identify the position at which the given
sentence can be inserted. Mark the option containing that position as your answer.
The paragraph has a blank in the end. Choose a suitable sentence / sentences which
will fit in the blank in the end of the paragraph properly.
41. (M) On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for delinking the Union budget
from elections — the former’s importance “transcends our (political) differences”, he said.
(N) Even as elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa are around
the corner, the budget has refrained from measures that put more money in the hands of
_______________________
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget for 2022-23 appears to take its cue
from the PM’s exhortation.
a. The focus of the budget, instead, has been on ramping up public sector capital
spending.
b. These investments can, in turn, stimulate demand for steel, cement, capital goods
and commercial vehicles.
c. This could arguably be a consequence of the recent protests by young people over
limited public employment.

281
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b D. Only a E. All a, b and c
43. The Centre’s own capex for the coming fiscal is budgeted at Rs 7.5 lakh crore, which is
Rs 2 lakh crore higher than the 2021-22 RE and more than double the Rs 3.36 lakh crore in
An announcement on hiking the annual PM-Kisan benefit amount to, say, Rs 9,000 per
farmer, would have certainly appealed to rural voters in the context of the upcoming
elections.
a. Any fiscal adventurism would, moreover, have backfired in the present global context.
b. This is going to act as a drag on private consumption for some time to come.
c. The Indian economy needs investments in roads, railways, mass transport, irrigation
and waterways that will boost productivity in the long run and reduce logistics costs.
Direction(45-48): Each of the questions below contains a sentence with three blanks,
indicating a preposition, a word and an idiom are missing. The sentence is then
followed by a table containing three prepositions, words and idioms in each column.
You have to choose the correct combination of preposition, word and idiom that'll fit
in those blanks respectively.

282
45. His _______ which were apparently made ___________ , have raised a storm ____
protest.
A. remarks D. off-the-cuff G. for
B. comments E. off-the-rack H. of
C. inputs F. off the hook I. in
A. ADH
B. BEH
C. CFG
D. BFI
46. In the middle of our ________ _____ my finances, my advisor went ___________ about
current events.
A. conversation D. of G. on a tangent
B. discussion E. about H. round the bend
C. conference F. for I. green around the gills
A. ADH
B. BEG
C. CFH
D. BFI
47. She finds herself with her ____________ now that creditors are coming ______ her for
more ______ than she makes.

283
A. up in arms D. for G. money
B. back to the wall E. after H. capital
C. up to no good F. with I. currency
A. ADH
B. BFG
C. CFI
D. BEG
48. My friend is the _____ athlete of our high school, so no matter what I succeed ___, he's
constantly _______________.
A. star D. for G. spilling the beans
B. champion E. in H. taking the mickey
C. superstar F. of I. wearing my fingers to the

bone
A. ADH
B. BFG
C. CEI
D. BEG
Direction(49-51): In the question below, a pair of homophones is given, followed by

three sentences in each of which one of the two homophones will fit. From the
options below, choose the correct order of the homophones that will fit in the
sentences.

284
49.
A - stare
B - stair
a. She gave him a cold ______.

b. At the bottom _____, her feet kicked something firm but soft and nearly fell.
c. I did ______ him straight in the eye but he didn't recognize me.
A. BBA B. ABA C. AAB D. BAB E. None of the above options
50.
A - mown
B - moan
a. Their job was to rake the _______ corn ready for carting.
b. The noise sounded like a soft ______ and echoed through the silence.
c. The ______ of the wind in the chimneys was so audible.
51.
A - nay
B - neigh
a. Permission to build the superstore will take months, nay years.

b. There was an alarmed stamping of hooves and a shrill neigh from the horse.
c. So I have until next week to give the final yea or nay.

285

phrasal verbs are given. You've to choose the correct pairs of the statement and the
phrasal verb that will fit in that particular sentence correctly and make that sentence
contextually correct.
52.
Column I Column II
A. He had just enough money to D. get off

___________.
B. Have I managed to __________ how E. get by

much I love this song?
C. While most ___________ with a F. get across

warning, there is at least one case of
dismissal.
A. AE, BF and CD
B. AD, BE and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BD and CF
53.
Column I Column II
A. Undercover officers spent most of their D. hanging around

time ____________.

286
B. Only time will tell if the plan is E. holding out

successful, but I'm not _____________
much hope.
C. Instead of __________, the snow F. letting up

squalls intensified.
A. AE, BF and CD
B. AD, BE and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BD and CF
54.
Column I Column II
A. I want to _________ these plans with D. get on

you again.
B. That's enough hanging around, we E. go over

need to ________.
C. If you got in an argument with him, F. go off

he'd just ________.
A. AF, BE and CD
B. AE, BD and CF
C. AF, BD and CE
D. AE, BF and CD

287
Direction(55-56): In the following question, a situation is given, followed by three

options, each containing a few words/phrases that may or may not accurately
describe the situation. Choose the option(s) that correctly describe(s) the situation.
There is one more question associated with each of the situations. You've to answer
accordingly.
55.
Situation
Today’s the first weekend this year where many cities will see a semblance of the state of
being usual and normal. Unlike earlier occasions, states this time have not let weekend
restrictions linger even though daily new infections average around 2.5 lakh. It spells relief
for India’s contact-intensive businesses such as eateries which have been in a very difficult
situation. This sector has been among the worst hit over the last two years.
Which of the following words / phrases can be derived from the above paragraph?
a. normalcy, beleaguered
b. alleviation, take the edge off
c. aggravation, continuance

and c
56. Which of the following statements can logically follow the above situation?
The sentence must be in line with the last sentence of the paragraph.
a. The National Restaurant Association of India last year estimated that the
pandemic-induced lockdowns had put around 25% of restaurants out of business,
leading to retrenchment of about 2.4 million employees.
b. States during the Omicron wave raised their game by linking mobility restrictions to
the extent of stress on the healthcare infrastructure.
c. After living with the novel coronavirus for almost two years, people have developed a
sense of the associated risks.

288
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c
Direction(57-60): In each of the questions, there are 4 parts of sentences that form a
complete sentence. Identify the part/s that is/are incorrect contextually or
grammatically and choose the answer accordingly.
57.
a. Finally, London wants to build a coalition of like-minded countries to reshape the
global governance of technology,
b. which includes strengthening technological ties with the traditionally and close
partners
c. in the Anglosphere — US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand —
d. as well as other partners like Japan and India.
A. Only a and c B. Only b and d C. Only b D. All a, b, c and d E. No error in any part
58.
a. Karnataka is an outlier in south India,
b. the only state that has not added eggs to its mid-day meal menu,
c. despite that a large majority of its people have
d. no cultural aversion to eat non-vegetarian food.
A. Only a and c B. Only b and d C. Only c and d D. All a, b, c and d E. No error in any
part
59.
a. Former prime minister Morarji Desai offered to lead to
b. a nationwide non-cooperation movement
c. against Congress “misrule” and

289
d. sought the peoples’ cooperation in this venture.
A. Only a B. Only b and d C. Only c and d D. All a, b, c and d E. No error in any part
60.
a. Projects like designing bus routes for optimal service
b. or comparing with solar PV pumps to the grid for a crop system,
c. do not result in new technology
d. but to contribute to its deployment.
A. Only a B. Only b and d C. Only c and d D. All a, b, c and d E. No error in any part
Direction(61-63): In each of the questions below, a sentence is given with four

highlighted phrases. One of those phrases may be contextually or grammatically
INCORRECT. You've to identify the INCORRECT PHRASE. If no phrase is incorrect,
choose E as your answer.
61. Though the legal route has helped overcome some of the hurdles, it will be a long haul
before gender parity is fully achieved in the Army; in that context, the Prime Minister’s
Independence Day announcement that girls will be granted to admission in the Sainik
Schools is a welcome move towards preparing them for an equal role and life in the
military.
A. helped overcome
B. in that context
C. granted to admission
D. a welcome move towards preparing
E. No error in any phrase
62. Yes, women in the past decade have come together to stand up for what they believe
in, but their efforts fall short when changing the people closest to theirs.

290
A. in the past decade

B. stand up for
C. what they believe in
D. closest to theirs
E. No error in any part
63. AI and MI are some of the future technology that are going to shape our lives in the
next two decades, according to Dr. Narayana Rao's speech during the celebrations of
Engineers Day on September 15, held to mark the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna
Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.
A. some of the future technology

B. in the next two decades
C. during the celebrations
D. held to mark
E. No error in any phrase
New Pattern Column-based Questions
Direction(64-68): In each of the following questions, there are two columns. In column
I, there are three different statements. In column II, there are three more different
statements.
Under column I, in each of the statements there are two blanks. These blanks
represent MISSING WORDS, MISSING PHRASES and MISSING PHRASAL VERBS for
different statements.
Under column II, each statement is divided into FIVE jumbled parts. You've to arrange
those statements in the correct order.
Lastly, you've to match two columns in the manner that a statement in column II will
contextually follow a statement in column I.

291
Question 64
Column I Column II
A. Interestingly, the word “charisma” — D. (a)Proper distribution of resources,

used to understand the performance of successful delivery and positive impacts
candidates and parties in elections before of (b)It’s also linked to (c)The
the 1990s — _____________________, performances of politicians and an
even for leaders __________________ appropriate political agenda, (d)Welfare
on a large section of the Indian people. programmes contribute towards
enhancing trust capital (e)The reception
given by people to
B. Unlike charisma, which _________ the E. (f)This and to analyse (g)The most
magical pull of a leader, trust capital is prominent example of (h)Prime Minister
acquired slowly by _________ Narendra Modi is (i)Increasingly using
connections and delivering on promises. phrases like trust capital (j)The
charismatic effects of such political
leaders, analysts are
C. Trust capital is not the same as the F. (k)With practices related (l)Of the
phrase, “vishwas ki punji”, used by initiatives and (m)It acquires new
common people in their ________ lives in meaning after getting intertwined
northern India; this new term is, however, (n)Achievements of leaders and parties
________ in the social values related to (o)To image building, effective messaging
vishwas (trust). and aggressive advertising
Interestingly, the word “charisma” — used to understand the performance of candidates and
parties in elections before the 1990s — _________________, even for leaders
________________ on a large section of the Indian people.
64. Which of the following pairs of PHRASES can most appropriately fit in the blanks
in the above statement respectively?
a. is seldom used today, who have a deep influence

b. is customarily applied today, who have a flimsy sway

292
c. is hardly ever used today, who exert weighty impact
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only a D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
Unlike charisma, which _________ the magical pull of a leader, trust capital is acquired
slowly by _________ connections and delivering on promises.
65. Which of the following pairs of PHRASAL VERBS can most appropriately fit in the
a. points do, putting up

b. stands for, setting up
c. tells on, knocking together

and c
Trust capital is not the same as the phrase, “vishwas ki punji”, used by common people in
their ________ lives in northern India; this new term is, however, ________ in the social
values related to vishwas (trust).
66. Which of the following pairs of WORDS can most appropriately fit in the blanks in
the above statement respectively?
a. quotidian, rooted
b. diurnal, embedded
c. day-to-day, entrenched

and c
67. Which of the following ORDERS of PHRASES of the sentences in COLUMN II are
the correct orders, respectively?

293
A. eadcb, gfijh, okmnl

B. becad, hgfji, mkoln
C. beadc, hfijg, molnk
D. caedb, ifghj, mklon
68. Which of the following combinations is CORRECT after matching the columns?
A. AE, BD and CF
B. AD, BF and CE
C. AE, BF and CD
D. AF, BD and CE
Direction(69-73): In each of the following questions, there are two columns. In column
I, there are three different statements. In column II, there are three more different
statements.
Under column I, in each of the statements there are two blanks. These blanks
represent MISSING IDIOMS, MISSING PHRASES and MISSING PHRASAL VERBS for
different statements.
Under column II, each statement is divided into FIVE jumbled parts. You've to arrange
those statements in the correct order.
Lastly, you've to match two columns in the manner that a statement in column II will
contextually follow a statement in column I.
Question
Column I Column II

294
A. Even those who shop at discount D. (a)The Italian luxury label Gucci, which
stores and fill their closets with had created the item (b)On the other
two-for-one deals know that once you hand, the fact that it has the bare
slap a high-end logo on it, the most minimum functionality (c)Just as it was
___________ item can be sold at a/an not enough for the Chinese social media
______________ price. users who recently trolled (d)As part of a
collaboration with Adidas (e)To qualify as
an umbrella might not be enough,
B. Would you ________ $1,600 on a E. (f)Marcel Duchamp brought in (g)What

non-waterproof umbrella? It might help to happened at the Independents Exhibition
know that it will probably __________ the in New York City in 1917; (h)But the only
sun. real comparison is with (i)As an art piece
called ‘The Fountain’ (j)A porcelain urinal,
turned it upside down and displayed it
C. One might be tempted to draw F. (k)Skateboards which are too

parallels with the Gilded Age in 19th expensive to be anywhere but (l)Brown
century US or late 17th century France as paper bags that retail for $290, as the
it was under Louis XIV, “The Sun King”, ones created (m)Why else would luxury
_____________________ how the rich labels produce (n)By German design
have always spent houses? (o)In a bank vault, or
_______________________.
Even those who shop at discount stores and fill their closets with two-for-one deals know
that once you slap a high-end logo on it, the most ___________ item can be sold at a/an
______________ price.
69. Which of the following pairs of IDIOMS can most appropriately fit in the blanks in
a. run-of-the-mill, eye-watering
b. plain vanilla, over-the-top
c. out of the ordinary, penny-pinching

295

and c
Would you ________ $1,600 on a non-waterproof umbrella? It might help to know that it will
probably __________ the sun.
70. Which of the following pairs of PHRASAL VERBS can most appropriately fit in the
a. lash out, leave out

b. fork out, keep out
c. splash out, shut out

and c
One might be tempted to draw parallels with the Gilded Age in 19th century US or late 17th
century France as it was under Louis XIV, “The Sun King”, __________________ how the
rich have always spent ________________________.
in the above statement respectively?
a. to make a point about, absurd amounts of money on fripperies

b. to make a play for, level-headed amounts of money on ornamentations
c. to direct attention to, tenable amounts for money on embellishments
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
72. Which of the following ORDERS of PHRASES of the sentences in COLUMN II are
the correct orders, respectively?

296
A. eadcb, gfijh, okmnl

B. becad, hgfji, mkoln
C. beadc, hfijg, molnk
D. caedb, ifghj, mklon
73. Which of the following combinations is CORRECT after matching the columns?
A. AE, BD and CF
B. AD, BF and CE
C. AE, BF and CD
D. AF, BD and CE
New Pattern Filler-Column-based Questions
Direction(74-77): In the following question, there are three PARAGRAPHS. There is

one blank in each of the PARAGRAPH. Three statements will fit in those three blanks.
The paragraphs is followed by a TABLE. Each statement is divided into two parts. The
first column contains the first part of a statement and the second column contains the
second part of a statement.
You've to match the columns correctly to form correct statements.
Now, in the option part, also follow the correct order in which the statements will be
placed in the blanks in the three paragraphs respectively.
74.
As technology flattens the world, the way we operate our daily lives — travel, entertain,
educate, shop, communicate and even obtain food — is undergoing a radical change. This
has impacted a variety of stakeholders in the country differently – there are obvious winners
and losers. _______________________________________
The proliferation of a wide range of e-commerce platforms has created convenience and
increased consumer choice. But in hindsight, the initial cashback and deep discounts have
turned out to be a forerunner to addiction. _____________________________________

297
While using the various platforms, citizens share their data voluntarily and involuntarily. The
aggregators gather shopping habits, consumer preferences, and other personal data. The
platforms are accused of using this data — data that is neither created by them (it is created
by customers) nor for them (it is created for sellers of the product/service) — to create and
improve their own products and services, taking away business from other sellers on their
platform. ____________________________________
Column I Column II
A. The nature of our success in dealing D. malpractices this position allows them
with this change will lie in the ways in to indulge in.
which we deal with the
B. They capitalise on this data and E. concerns of all players.

information about other brands to launch
competing
C. The online aggregator platforms have F. products on their marketplace.

also damaged large segments of small
and medium businesses through their
dominant position and the
A. BD, CE and AF
B. AE, CD and BF
C. CD, AF and BE
D. AD, BF and CE
75.
Wimbledon 2022 isn’t like its previous editions. As the most eagerly awaited tennis major
opened to a diluted draw and several low-key first-round matches, the impact of its
vulnerability to geopolitics hit home. In April, in what was seen as an over-reaction in many
quarters, the most celebrated tennis tournament banned Russian and Belarusian players
because of the war in Ukraine. _______________________________________
The other regular feature missing at Wimbledon this year will be Federer.
___________________________________________ The junior singles champion in 1998,

298
Federer has played in every main draw event in the 22 years since. He misses out due to an
injury. It’s too much of a change for this ancient venue steeped in customs to take.
Global tennis bodies — ATP and WTA — haven’t remained silent.

__________________________________________ The biggest victim of these unfortunate
circumstances is one of the game’s superstars, Serbian Novak Djokovic, in line to become
only the fourth men’s player (after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer) to win a
fourth consecutive Wimbledon title. Because of the complex ranking calculations, and the
ATP decision, Djokovic is sure to lose his place in the Top 5 even if he wins here.
Column I Column II
A. They have stripped Wimbledon of D. further divisions in an already fractured

ranking points in sport.
B. The move did not go down well with E. the tournament for the better part of
the tennis fraternity, creating two decades.
C. The blend of elegant and powerful F. the strongest rebuke of an event in

tennis came to define recent history.
A. BD, CE and AF
B. AE, BD and CF
C. CD, BF and AE
D. BE, CD and AF
76.
Five years after the shift to the Goods and Services Tax, the 47th meeting of the GST
Council, scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on June 28-29, is expected to take up
proposals aimed at plugging leakages and shoring up compliance. It is also likely to consider
measures for stricter scrutiny and verification of high risk tax payers. In addition to these, the
Council will address several contentious issues. ___________________________________
To begin with, the five-year GST compensation period — the framework designed to provide
certainty to state finances as part of the grand bargain struck between the Centre and the

299
states to push through GST — is coming to an end.

_____________________________________ Their concerns appear legitimate.
_________________________________________ Addressing the contentious issues will,

first and foremost, require bridging the trust deficit between the Centre and states. The spirit
of cooperative federalism, often advocated by the ruling dispensation, must be upheld.
Column I Column II
A. Fearing a collapse in their revenues, D. the country’s fiscal architecture.

states have repeatedly asked for
B. The consultative and consensual E. an extension of this mechanism.

nature of decision-making that has helped
guide
C. It will not be easy, given that this F. the Council’s decisions so far must be
meeting comes amidst growing tensions adhered to.
between the Centre and the states over
A. BD, CF and AE
B. AD, BF and CE
C. CD, AE and BF
D. BE, CF and AD
77.
The Narendra Modi government is set to launch a new household consumer expenditure
survey (CES) from July. The exercise is welcome — in fact, long overdue. The CES,
covering some 1.2 lakh rural and 84,000 urban households, is supposed to be conducted
every five years. The last two such nationwide sample surveys were carried out in 2011-12
and 2017-18. Unfortunately, the results of the 2017-18 survey were not released on grounds
of unexplained “data quality issues”. _______________________________ Many would
rightly argue that high growth rates and government welfare programmes have little
meaning, especially in a country like India, if these do not result in reducing poverty.
While the CES’s launch is timely, the government should move to doing surveys on a more
regular basis. The existing quinquennial framework and waiting for “normal” years makes no

300
sense. Such years have become increasingly rare in India, where the recent period has
seen disruptions owing to demonetisation, GST, Covid and the Ukraine war-induced
commodity price shock. _____________________________________
The current data vacuum is in contrast to 2011-12, when there was a surfeit of information
from the decennial Census and the Rural Development Ministry’s Socio Economic and
Caste Census. ______________________________________ Data-driven policy-making is
vital to other areas as well: For instance, is consumption of foods rich in proteins (milk,
pulses, eggs and meat) and micro-nutrients (fruits and vegetables) growing at the same rate
as in the previous decade?
Column I Column II
A. Effectively, it means there is no official D. rural housing and toilets or providing

data after 2011-12 for estimating poverty free LPG and electricity connections.
lines and ratios, based on consumption
spending below a certain level and
B. Since government decision-making E. the percentage of households falling

has to be dynamic and responsive to within that deprivation threshold.
C. The latter data was, in fact, key to the F. changing ground situations, the data
identification of beneficiaries under the has to keep flowing.
Modi government’s own successful
schemes — be it
A. AE, BF and CD
B. BD, CF and AE
C. CE, BF and AD
D. AD, BE and CF
Directions : In the questions given below, a sentence has been broken down into five
fragments labeled (m), (n), (o), (p), and (q) and arranged, not necessarily in the correct
order. You have to find the correct order of arrangement from the options given
below.

301
78. (m) playing Sandy in Grease, one

(n) The British-born Australian singer
(o) of the most successful
(p) and actress was best known for
(q) film musicals ever made.
A. nopmq
B. npmoq
C. qopnm
D. qopmn
79. (m) a hardened Taliban fighter, in

(n) the northern district of Balkh.
(o) capturing territory from the Afghan government as
(p) foreign forces prepared to withdraw, we met Ainudeen,
(q) As the Taliban advanced across Afghanistan last summer,
A. nopmq
B. npmoq
C. qopnm
D. qopmn
80. (m) bored by their

(n) In private, some other Taliban members
(o) who used to be on the
(p) frontlines admit they're rather
(q) new office-based roles.
A. nopmq
B. npmoq
C. qopnm
D. qopmn
81. (m) West Coast and Europe.

(n) travel time between the US
(o) man-made waterway linking the Pacific

302
(p) and Atlantic Oceans nearly halved the

(q) Upon its completion in 1914, this
A. nopmq
B. npmoq
C. qopmn
D. qopnm
Directions In the following question, a sentence is given with three words marked as (A), (B),
and (C). These words may or may not be placed in their correct places. Four options with
different arrangements of these words have been provided. Mark the option with the correct
arrangement as the answer. If no rearrangement is required, mark option (E) as your
answer.
82. The occupation (A) has been under Russian technicians (B) since early March,
although Ukrainian complex (C) still operate it.
A. ACB
B. BCA
C. BAC
D. CAB
83. The plant's staff, Mr Kotin said, were tortured (A) under working (B) and in danger,
and some had been captured, beaten and pressure(C).
multiple_choice
A. ACB
B. BCA
C. BAC
D. CAB
84. The tensions (A) have led to allowed (B) calls for international inspectors to be

303
growing (C) to visit the site.
A. ACB
B. BCA
C. BAC
D. CAB
85. Russian forces launch (A) the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have turned (B) the
site into a military base to occupying (C) attacks against Ukrainian positions, the head of
Ukraine's nuclear power company says.
A. ACB
B. CBA
C. BAC
D. CAB
Directions: The given sentence has been broken up into four different parts. The error, if any,
will be in one or more parts of the sentence. Select the option which contains the part/parts
of the sentence which has/have an error (spelling, grammatical or contextual). If there is no
error, choose option E.
86. Dispersion is therefore due of/ the fact that rays of/ different colours possess/ different
refrangibilities/ no error.
A. Dispersion is therefore due

B. of the fact that rays of
C. different colours possess
D. different refrangibilities.
E. No error
87. That being so, it is quiet possible that, in/ normal conditions and circumstances,/ these
parasites also possess, at some period/ of the life-cycle, a trypaniform phase./ no error.

304
A. That being so, it is quiet possible that, in

B. normal conditions and circumstances,
C. these parasites also possess, at some period
D. of the life-cycle, a trypaniform phase.
E. No error
88. Nearly all of the islands possess/ lakes, and Loch Harray and Loch/ Stenness in
Pomona attain/ noteworthy proportions/ no error.
A. Nearly all of the islands possess

B. lakes, and Loch Harray and Loch
C. Stenness in Pomona attain
D. noteworthy proportions
E. No error
Various Types of Questions on Short Passages
Types - Phrase Filler, Word Filler, Comprehensive Ability(3Q).
Direction(89-93): The short passage below has SOME QUESTIONS OF DIFFERENT

PATTERNS. Detailed instructions are given below. Answer those questions by
marking the correct options.
Only the old-fashioned believe that all tourism is adventure. Nowadays types of tourism
____________________; adventure tourism is not the same as medical tourism — the latter
would be terrifying if it became adventurous. The traditional tourism of ________
open-mouthed at the Taj Mahal or the Egyptian pyramids persists too, side by side with what
could be called experience tourism. The last entails living in tents in the desert for a couple
of days to _________________ or huddling inside an igloo without the smell of unfamiliar
oils and blubber. Now Haldwani prison in Uttarakhand is reportedly ______ the prison
experience to tourists for Rs 500 a night, complete with prison uniform and prison food. The
prison toilet facilities, too? That would be impressive, both for the hosts and the tourists.
Apparently, the Haldwani authorities are ‘preparing’ some unused space on the premises for

305
tourist accommodation, which might prompt questions about the genuineness of the
experience the tourists would be paying for. And some curiosity about prison food — would
inmates be getting a treat on the days tourists _______ their special quarters?
Type - Comprehensive Ability
adventure tourism is not the same as medical tourism — the latter would be terrifying if it
became adventurous.
89. Why does the author think that medical tourism will become terrifying if it
becomes adventurous?
a. Because, adventure tourism means the movement of the people from one to another
place outside their comfort zone for exploration and it can be excruciating for an ailing
person.
b. Because, adventure tourism is a tourist activity that includes physical activity and this
very thing can be pecuniarily difficult for a person with physical ailments.
c. Because, adventure tourism involves exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk
requiring physical exertion, which can become harrowing for an afflicted person.

and c
Apparently, the Haldwani authorities are ‘preparing’ some unused space on the premises for
tourist accommodation, which might prompt questions about the genuineness of the
experience the tourists would be paying for.
90. What can you infer from the above portion according to the author's perspective?

306
a. The fact that the Haldwani authorities are setting up some unused space on the
premises of the prison for tourist accommodation might compromise with the actual
experience of staying in a prison.
b. The fact that the Haldwani authorities are setting up some unused space on the
premises of the prison for tourist accommodation might change the idea of staying in
an actual prison.
c. The fact that the Haldwani authorities are setting up some unused space on the
premises of the prison for tourist accommodation might create some unrest in the
prison.

and c
Type - Phrase Fillers
Only the old-fashioned believe that all tourism is adventure. Nowadays types of tourism
_________________;
The last entails living in tents in the desert for a couple of days to _________________ or
huddling inside an igloo without the smell of unfamiliar oils and blubber.
91. Which of the following phrases can most appropriately fit in the blanks in the
above statement respectively?
a. are finely distinguished, feel like nomads

b. are subtly differentiated, feel like wanderers
c. are vastly fastened, feel like denizens

and c
Type - Word Fillers
The traditional tourism of ________ open-mouthed at the Taj Mahal or the Egyptian
pyramids persists too, side by side with what could be called experience tourism.

307
Now Haldwani prison in Uttarakhand is reportedly ______ the prison experience to tourists
for Rs 500 a night, complete with prison uniform and prison food.
And some curiosity about prison food — would inmates be getting a treat on the days
tourists _______ their special quarters?
blanks in the above statements respectively?
a. gazing, offering, occupy

b. gaping, putting forward, reside in
c. peering, coming up with, lodge in

and c
Haldwani authorities are ‘preparing’ some unused space on the premises for tourist
accommodation, which might prompt questions about the genuineness of the experience the
tourists would be paying for. And some curiosity about prison food — would inmates be
getting a treat on the days tourists occupy their special quarters?
93. Which of the following facts can be derived from the author's tone and
perspective in the above portion of the passage?
a. Prison inmates probably get poor-quality food most of the time.

b. Prison inmates probably don't live in a very good condition.
c. Prison inmates probably don't get to experience the authentic experience of staying in
a prison.

and c

308

PHRASAL VERBS are given. You've to choose the correct pairs of the statement and
the PHRASAL VERB that will fit in that particular sentence correctly and make that
sentence contextually correct.
94.
Column I
A. As soon as the store opened their doors, people ________ so they could get some of
the incredible deals.
B. We just _______ the traffic jam when another accident happened.
C. The protesters ________ from the premises as soon as the police arrived.
Column II
D. moved off
E. flooded in
F. got by
A. AE, BF and CD B. AD, BE and CF C. AF, BD and CE D. AE, BD and CF E.

None of the above options
95.
Column I
A. Please _________ each step as you do it.
B. You shouldn't ________; rather you should just work on your paper!
C. Once you become a parent, you might decide to delegate more of your tasks—or
________ the title of CEO entirely.
Column II
D. cast off
E. check off
F. blow off


309
96.
Column I
A. In the second chapter of your thesis, be sure to ________ to the topics and themes
you presented in chapter one.
B. The morning after another rather indulgent evening, I decided it was high time for me
to _______ my accounts.
C. You're a great student, but I would really like for you to ________ and try a sport this
year.
Column II
D. cast up
E. branch out
F. cast back

97.
Column I
A. I love that his mysterious lyrics give listeners a lot to __________.
B. I've had a bad cough for a few weeks that I can't seem to _________.
C. You must not _________ being bored, or I swear I will turn this car around and drive
straight home!
Column II
D. throw off
E. parse out
F. whine about


310
98. M.
I. I do have to be getting back to the office, but I suppose I could stay for a spot of
lunch.
II. There are recipes for lunch out there that look and taste great, but the ingredients
required are absurdly expensive.
N.
I. We need to go back to the drawing board on this project. I think it had some
fundamental flaws from the start.
II. The project is only in the initial phase as yet, but it's looking quite promising.
O.
I. The concert really was all the way live, I wish you could have been there, man.
II. The event will be telecast simultaneously to nearly 150 cities live.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O
99. M.
I. The message board administrators suspended everyone involved in that flame war.
II. Everyone was involved in an exchange of angry or inflammatory messages online.
N.
I. Oh, he's a flaming galah, all right. Don't bother listening to a word he says.
II. He's a fool if he thinks she still loves him.
O.
I. Yes, the block is hot—we have to get out of here!
II. Hundred of police have surrounded the area, the Charlie Hebdo murderers are
believed to be in.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O
Various Types of Questions on Short Passages

311
Types - Phrase Filler, Word Filler, Comprehensive Ability(2Q), Idiom.
Direction(100-104): The short passage below has SOME QUESTIONS OF DIFFERENT

PATTERNS. Detailed instructions are given below. Answer those questions by
marking the correct options.
If not for a last minute decision to skip the Sunday mass in 2019, Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun
Shanaka might well not be alive today. St Sebastian Church, in his home town Negombo,
was one of the six churches and hotels attacked by terrorists. Shanaka was too tired to
make it to church and when he heard the blast, he rushed to find it completely destroyed. A
few months later, the nation would slip into economic ________ and political crisis, with
people rising in protest against those in power. Inflation shot up over 50 per cent, people
struggled with daily power cuts and shortages of fuel, food, and medicines,
____________________________.
Cricket continued amidst this crisis. When the Australian cricket team toured Sri Lanka in
June this year, they were met with lines of people _________ all around the city of Colombo
against the government. But inside the stadium people _________________________.
Chamika Karunaratne, the allrounder who did the Naagin dance after the team won against
Bangladesh at the just concluded Asia Cup, once had to miss practice as he was stuck in
the line for petrol. Several former cricketers such as Roshan Mahanama participated in the
peaceful protests and numerous others including Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar
Sangakkara, two modern greats of the game, voiced their support to the people.
If the chaos around wasn’t enough, Sri Lankan cricket went through a musical chairs of
captaincy and coaches before settling with Shanaka as the captain and Chris Silverwood,
who was unceremoniously sacked from England after the Ashes defeat, as the coach. Two
years ago, they had dropped many senior players. In 2021, after a heavy defeat to England,
Shanaka was made captain. The irony is that Sri Lanka is yet to qualify for the T20 World
Cup, and have to play qualification rounds. From then on, to reunite the team, infuse them
with energy and purpose, it has been an unenviable task. On Sunday, Team Sri Lanka was
crowned the Asian champions, a win they will _______ for a long time.
Type - Phrase Filler

312
Inflation shot up over 50 per cent, people struggled with daily power cuts and shortages of
fuel, food, and medicines, ____________________________.
June this year, they were met with lines of people protesting all around the city of Colombo
against the government. But inside the stadium people _________________________.
in the above passage respectively?
a. as the country defaulted on its debt repayments, turned out in large numbers to watch
the game
b. since the country cut the mustard in footing the bill for its debt repayments, showed
up in abundance to enjoy the game
c. as the country foundered in shelling out for its debt repayments, came along in huge
numbers to relish the game

and c
Type - Word Filler
A few months later, the nation would slip into economic ________ and political crisis, with
people rising in protest against those in power.
June this year, they were met with lines of people _________ all around the city of Colombo
against the government.
On Sunday, Team Sri Lanka was crowned the Asian champions, a win they will _______ for
a long time.
blanks in the above portions respectively?

313
a. disarray, dissenting, cherish

b. chaos, standing by, treasure
c. mayhem, crying out, hold dear

and c
Type - Comprehension
102. Which of the following statements can be made on Sri Lanka's cricket, based on
your own conscience?
a. It is the fighting spirit of the Sri Lankan cricketers that continues to sail them through
everything; the success at the Asia cup has come at a time when the country’s pitch
is bouncy, patchy and full of uncertainties.
b. It's wonderful how a bunch of men coming from a country that’s facing political turmoil
and deep economic crisis marshalled their way into the finals of the Asia Cup 2022
and beat one of the tournament favourites.
c. Sports can hardly console those who have lost homes or jobs in Sri Lankan crisis; Sri
Lanka’s masterly triumph will perhaps act as a much-needed pinprick for the
distressed nation.

and c
Type - Comprehension
103. If you have to justify the phrase 'power of sports', which is aptly appropriate for
the above context, which of the following statements can be made contextually?
a. Sports can temporarily alleviate clouds of darkness and despair, it can put a smile on
the faces of people; at a time when worry, tension and uncertainty are constant
companions, that is simply priceless.
b. Against the disturbing backdrop for Sri Lanka's ongoing crisis, to celebrate a title run
in cricket might appear incongruous.

314
c. This Asia Cup triumph will not change their lives, it won’t make the hardships
disappear in a trice or immediately return them to their glory days when tourism
thrived and the masses came a-thronging, but it instills the hope that it is darkest
before dawn, and that a turnaround is never too far away.

and c
Type - Idioms
104. How would you describe the character of Sri Lankan cricket, using an
appropriate idiom?
a. rock-ribbed
b. stout-hearted
c. of the first water

and c
paragraph.
(a) Private cryptocurrencies have been shown to lack characteristics such as stability in
value.
(b) RBI last week ______ a concept note on the central bank digital currency (CBDC) and
added that a pilot project will soon be _______ for specific use cases.
(c) RBI seems, rightly, disinclined to make a hasty transition to CBDC.

315
(d) There’s been a notable and revolutionary change in the global environment for digital
currencies since the budget.
(e) Nonetheless caution is called for.
(f) Effectively, it means they can never be a threat to currency issued by a central bank.
(a) Private cryptocurrencies have been shown to lack characteristics such as stability in
value.
105. How can you describe Private cryptocurrencies, as expressed in the above
statement?
a. indispensable
b. precarious
c. deficient

and c
(b) RBI last week ______ a concept note on the central bank digital currency (CBDC) and
added that a pilot project will soon be _______ for specific use cases.
106. Which of the following pairs of words can most appropriately fit in the blanks in
a. issued, launched
b. furnished, rolled out
c. purveyed, introduced

and c

316
(c) RBI seems, rightly, disinclined to make a hasty transition to CBDC.
107. How would you describe RBI, according to the author's perspective in the above
statement?
a. judicious
b. hurried
c. erroneous
A. Only a B. Only a and c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
(d) There’s been a notable and revolutionary change in the global environment for digital
currencies since the budget.
108. How would you describe the situation of digital currencies since the budget, as
expressed in the above statement, using an IDIOM?
a. round-the-clock
b. full of beans
c. far-reaching
A. Only a B. Only c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
A. c f
B. a e
C. c b

317
D. a c
(e) Nonetheless caution is called for.
110. Keeping the meaning intact, the above statement can be rewritten as -
a. However, carefulness is required.

b. Anyway, wariness is superfluous.
c. Yet, circumspection is demanded.

and c
(f) Effectively, it means they can never be a threat to currency issued by a central bank.
111. How would you describe 'them', as expressed in the above statement?
a. innocuous
b. ineffectual
c. productive
A. Only a B. Only c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
A. c f

318
B. a e
C. c b
D. a c
ANSWER
1.(Answer - D. Only m-n and o-p
There needs to be tight oversight at multiple levels to ensure that power is not abused for
reasons other than national security.
oversight - supervision.)
2.(Answer - C. Only m-p and n-o
The popularity of IPL, as measured by bids for telecast rights, indicate that fans may not
be so rigid in identifying the object of their passion.)
3.(Answer - B. OPMN
In short, excise collections from retail price of petrol and diesel are not the foundation of
government finances.)
4.(Answer - A. OPMN
Threats and acts of violence completely disable all tools for debating disagreements.)
5.(Answer - C. OPMN

319
Moody’s Investors Service this week enhanced GoI’s rating outlook from negative to
stable, it also affirmed Baa3 ratings for long-term loans in both domestic and foreign
currency, indicative of moderate credit risk.)
6.(Answer - B. N
PM's exhortation - delinking the Union budget from elections — the former’s importance
“transcends our (political) differences”.
exhortation - an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.)
The fact that the budget has refrained from measures that put more money in the
hands of people is explained in the last statement with an example.
Hence, the next statement should be -
The focus of the budget, instead, has been on ramping up public sector capital
spending.
b - Incorrect. 'These investments' is nonspecific.
c - Incorrect. This is irrelevant.)
8.(Answer - C. O
The fact that the step-up resists the temptation of raising spending that can yield
political dividends in the short term is explained through an example in the given
statement.
dividend - a resultant return or reward.

political dividends - Rs 9,000 per farmer, would have certainly appealed to rural voters in
the context of the upcoming elections.)
9. (Answer - B. Only c
The statement is a concluding statement.

The last statement is - Welcome, because it looks at the medium and long term.

320
And, the next statement is - The Indian economy needs investments in roads, railways,
mass transport, irrigation and waterways that will boost productivity in the long run and
reduce logistics costs.)
The statement must criticise the move by the chief minister to block the governor.
Hence, only a and b are perfectly right.
c - Incorrect. It's irrelevant and also contradictory.)
Only a can fit in the blank.
c - Incorrect. Grammatical error.

'signifies' is incorrect.
b - Incorrect. It doesn't make sense.)
12.(Answer - E. All a, b and c
There must be a negative statement.

All a, b and c are negative in tone.)
There must be a contradictory statement to the last statement as the statement starts
with 'while'.
Though Pakistan Foreign Minister Agha Shahi accepted the proposal immediately,
details about the composition of the commission are yet to be discussed by the two
governments.

321
14.(Answer - A. A D H
off-the-cuff - Casually and spontaneously; without planning or preparation.
off-the-rack - (of clothes) ready-made rather than made to order.
off the hook - no longer in difficulty or trouble.
input - remark or comment.)
15.(Answer - B. B E G
go green around the gills - (of a person) to look/feel ill pale or nauseous.
go on a tangent - to start talking about something that is only slightly or indirectly related to
the original subject.
go round the bend - to go mad.)
16.(Answer - D. B E G
back against / to the wall - to be in a tough situation with limited options.
up to no good - doing something wrong.
up in arms (over/about something) - protesting vigorously over/about something.)
17.(Answer - C. C E I
spill the beans - reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly.
steal one's thunder - win praise for oneself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to
impress.
wear one's fingers to the bone - to work excessively hard.)

322
18.(Answer - B. ABA
stare (verb) - look fixedly or boldly at someone.
noun - a long fixed or vacant look.
stair - a single step in a set of stairs.

stairs - a set of steps leading from one floor of a building to another, typically inside the
building.)
19.(Answer - D. ABB
moan - a long, low sound made by a person or a sound resembling a human moan.
mown (adj) - (of grass or a crop) cut down with a scythe or machine.)
20. (Answer - B. ABA
nay (adv) - or rather (used to emphasize a more appropriate word than one just used)
noun - a negative answer.
neigh - a characteristic high whinnying sound made by a horse.)
21.(Answer - A. AE, BF and CD
get across - to communicate clearly or convincingly.

get off - to escape a punishment.
get by - to survive.)
22.(Answer - B. AD, BE and CF
hang around - to stay in or at a place for a period of time.

hold out - Have a feeling of hope or optimism.
let up - become less intense.)

323
23.(Answer - B. AE, BD and CF
get on - continue doing something, especially after an interruption.

go over - consider, examine, or check something.
go off - become suddenly angry; lose one's temper.)
24.(Answer - A. digital form of paper currency
(a) A CBDC is a digital form of paper currency.
(f) It’s a reiteration of a 2017 suggestion by GoI’s high-level inter-ministerial committee

that asked RBI to introduce its own central bank digital currency (CBDC).)
25.(Answer - D. digital rupees
(b) Much interest has been generated by the Budget’s statement that RBI will issue digital
rupees during 2022-23.
(c) Globally, pilot projects on CBDC have been underway since 2014.)
26.(Answer - C. handing over currency notes
(d) Holders of CBDC can transfer money digitally instead of handing over currency notes.
(e) However, progress is slow because this seemingly simple innovation can have
unforeseen consequences.)
27.(Answer - A. f a d
b f a d c e )
normalcy - the condition of being normal.

324
Refer to - Today’s the first weekend this year where many cities will see a semblance of the
state of being usual and normal.
beleaguered - in a difficult situation.

Refer to - It spells relief for India’s contact-intensive businesses such as eateries which
have been in a very difficult situation.
alleviation - the action or process of making suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
take the edge off - reduce the intensity or effect of (something unpleasant or severe).
Refer to - Unlike earlier occasions, states this time have not let weekend restrictions
linger even though daily new infections average around 2.5 lakh.
aggravation - the state of becoming worse or more serious; exacerbation.

continuance - continuation.
These two words can't be derived.)
The fact that the eatery sector has been among the worst hit over the last two years is
well explained with data in statement a.
b - Incorrect. It talks about the healthcare infrastructure.
c - Incorrect. This is out of place.)
30. (Answer - B. uncomfortable facts)
31.(Answer - A. be able to recognise
discount - to ignore.)
32.(Answer - B. informed)

325
absence - a) The state of being away from a place or person. (Sentence II)
b) The non-existence or lack of; want. (Sentence I)
cost / levy / fare - an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something.
(Sentence I)
cost - the effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something. (Sentence II)
35.(Answer - D. Only c
tweak - a) a sharp twist or pull. (Sentence II)
b) Improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it. (Sentence I)
twitch - give or cause to give a short, sudden jerking or convulsive movement.)
context - a) The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in
terms of which it can be fully understood. (Sentence I)
b) The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or
passage and clarify its meaning. (Sentence II)
37.(Answer - A. OMPN
A new war of words between the two parties, partners who once had the longest surviving
alliance, has brought an important dimension to the fore in an already heated political
field.)

326
38.(Answer - B. PONM
There are recent reports in the media about serious concerns of several state
governments on Government of India’s proposed move to amend the IAS service rules to
meet the shortage of officers at various levels at the Centre.)
39. (Answer - C. OPMN
The CPM-led Kerala government’s decision to bring a decree to limit the powers of the
anti-corruption watchdog is questionable.
decree - an authoritative order.

watchdog - a guardian.)
40. (Answer - D. NOMP
In 1950, Article 226 limited the jurisdiction of a high court to issue writs only to authorities
resident within its territory.
writ - a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or
abstain from acting, in a particular way.)
41.(Answer - B. N
PM's exhortation - delinking the Union budget from elections — the former’s importance
“transcends our (political) differences”.
exhortation - an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.)
The fact that the budget has refrained from measures that put more money in the
hands of people is explained in the last statement with an example.
Hence, the next statement should be -

327
The focus of the budget, instead, has been on ramping up public sector capital
spending.
b - Incorrect. 'These investments' is nonspecific.
c - Incorrect. This is irrelevant.)
43.(Answer - C. O
The fact that the step-up resists the temptation of raising spending that can yield
political dividends in the short term is explained through an example in the given
statement.
dividend - a resultant return or reward.

political dividends - Rs 9,000 per farmer, would have certainly appealed to rural voters in
the context of the upcoming elections.)
The statement is a concluding statement.

The last statement is - Welcome, because it looks at the medium and long term.
And, the next statement is - The Indian economy needs investments in roads, railways,
mass transport, irrigation and waterways that will boost productivity in the long run and
reduce logistics costs.)
45.(Answer - A. A D H
off-the-cuff - Casually and spontaneously; without planning or preparation.
off-the-rack - (of clothes) ready-made rather than made to order.
off the hook - no longer in difficulty or trouble.
input - remark or comment.)
46.(Answer - B. B E G

328
go green around the gills - (of a person) to look/feel ill pale or nauseous.
go on a tangent - to start talking about something that is only slightly or indirectly related to
the original subject.
go round the bend - to go mad.)
47.(Answer - D. B E G
back against / to the wall - to be in a tough situation with limited options.
up to no good - doing something wrong.
up in arms (over/about something) - protesting vigorously over/about something.)
48.(Answer - C. C E I
spill the beans - reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly.
steal one's thunder - win praise for oneself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to
impress.
wear one's fingers to the bone - to work excessively hard.)
49. (Answer - B. ABA
stare (verb) - look fixedly or boldly at someone.
noun - a long fixed or vacant look.
stair - a single step in a set of stairs.

stairs - a set of steps leading from one floor of a building to another, typically inside the
building.)
50. (Answer - D. ABB

329
moan - a long, low sound made by a person or a sound resembling a human moan.
mown (adj) - (of grass or a crop) cut down with a scythe or machine.)
51.(Answer - B. ABA
nay (adv) - or rather (used to emphasize a more appropriate word than one just used)
noun - a negative answer.
neigh - a characteristic high whinnying sound made by a horse.)
get across - to communicate clearly or convincingly.

get off - to escape a punishment.
get by - to survive.)
53.(Answer - B. AD, BE and CF
hang around - to stay in or at a place for a period of time.

hold out - Have a feeling of hope or optimism.
let up - become less intense.)
54.(Answer - B. AE, BD and CF
get on - continue doing something, especially after an interruption.

go over - consider, examine, or check something.
go off - become suddenly angry; lose one's temper.)
normalcy - the condition of being normal.

330
Refer to - Today’s the first weekend this year where many cities will see a semblance of the
state of being usual and normal.
beleaguered - in a difficult situation.

Refer to - It spells relief for India’s contact-intensive businesses such as eateries which
have been in a very difficult situation.
alleviation - the action or process of making suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
take the edge off - reduce the intensity or effect of (something unpleasant or severe).
Refer to - Unlike earlier occasions, states this time have not let weekend restrictions
linger even though daily new infections average around 2.5 lakh.
aggravation - the state of becoming worse or more serious; exacerbation.

continuance - continuation.
These two words can't be derived.)
The fact that the eatery sector has been among the worst hit over the last two years is
well explained with data in statement a.
b - Incorrect. It talks about the healthcare infrastructure.
c - Incorrect. This is out of place.)
57.(Answer - C. Only b
The phrase - traditionally and close - is INCORRECT.
The correct phrase should be - strengthening technological ties with the traditionally
close partners)
58.(Answer - C. Only c and d
c - Incorrect.

331
We don't use a 'that-clause' after 'in spite of' and 'despite'. We use 'in spite of the fact
that' or 'despite the fact that'.
'despite the fact that a large….' is the CORRECT format.
d - Incorrect.
The correct phrase is - 'no cultural aversion to eating'.
'lead to' is an incorrect phrase.
lead - to guide.
lead to something - if an action or event leads to something, it causes that thing to happen
or exist.)
60. (Answer - B. Only b and d
b - Incorrect. There is an incorrect and unnecessary proposition - 'with'.
The correct phrase is - comparing solar PV pumps to the grid
d - Incorrect.
'but to contribute' should be replaced with 'but contribute'.)
61.(Answer - C. granted to admission
The correct phrase is - granted admission or, granted to take admission)
62.(Answer - D. closest to theirs
theirs - used for referring to someone or something that belongs to or is connected with a
particular group of people or animals that have already been mentioned.

332
Sharon’s parents claim that the house is legally theirs.
Your garden is big, but I think theirs is bigger.
As pronouns the difference between them and theirs is that them is third personal
plural pronoun used after a preposition or as the object of a verb while theirs is that
which belongs to them; the possessive case of they, used without a following noun.
In this sentence, the correct construction is - people closest to them.)
63.(Answer - A. some of the future technology
The word 'technology' is both uncountable and countable, depending on the usage.
As an uncountable noun - the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful
things or to solve problems.
Recent advances in medical technology have saved countless lives.
As a countable noun - a machine, piece of equipment, method, etc., that is created by

technology.
Here, AI and MI are methods.

Hence, the correct construction is - ''AI and MI are some of the future technologies…..''
seldom / hardly ever - rarely.
exert - apply or bring to bear.
sway - influence.
flimsy - insignificant.
customarily - very often.)

333
point to / stand for - to denote.
set up / put up / knock together - to build.
tell on - inform on/against; inform someone of the misdemeanours of someone else.)
All the first three words mean - everyday.
All the second words mean - established deeply and firmly.)
67.(Answer - B. becad, hgfji, mkoln
It’s also linked to the reception given by people to the performances of politicians and an
appropriate political agenda, proper distribution of resources, successful delivery and
positive impacts of welfare programmes contribute towards enhancing trust capital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most prominent example of this and to analyse the
charismatic effects of such political leaders, analysts are increasingly using phrases like
trust capital.
It acquires new meaning after getting intertwined with practices related to image building,
effective messaging and aggressive advertising of the initiatives and achievements of
leaders and parties.)
68.(Answer - A. AE, BD and CF)
run-of-the-mill / plain vanilla - ordinary.

over-the-top / eye-watering - excessively high.
out of the ordinary - extraordinary.

penny-pinching - unwilling to spend money.)

334
70. (Answer - C. Only b and c
fork out / splash out - spend (money).
keep out / shut out - prevent from entering.
lash out - hit or kick out at someone or something.

leave out - fail to include someone or something.)
make a play for - to try to get (someone or something).

It doesn't fit here.
fripperies / embellishments / ornamentations - showy or unnecessary ornaments in

architecture, dress, or language.
tenable - sensible.
level-headed - reasonable.
draw parallels - draw comparisons.)
72.(Answer - B. becad, hgfji, mkoln
On the other hand, the fact that it has the bare minimum functionality to qualify as an
umbrella might not be enough, just as it was not enough for the Chinese social media users
who recently trolled the Italian luxury label Gucci, which had created the item as part of a
collaboration with Adidas.
But the only real comparison is with what happened at the Independents Exhibition in New
York City in 1917; Marcel Duchamp brought in a porcelain urinal, turned it upside down and
displayed it as an art piece called ‘The Fountain’.
Why else would luxury labels produce skateboards which are too expensive to be anywhere
but in a bank vault, or brown paper bags that retail for $290 as the ones created by German
design houses ?)

335
73.(Answer - D. AF, BD and CE)
74.(Answer - B. AE, CD and BF
AE will fit in that first paragraph.

CD will fit in the second paragraph.
BF will fit in the third paragraph.)
75.(Answer - A. BD, CE and AF
BD will fit in that first paragraph.

CE will fit in the second paragraph.
AF will fit in the third paragraph.)
76.(Answer - C. CD, AE and BF
CD will fit in that first paragraph.

AE will fit in the second paragraph.
BF will fit in the third paragraph.)
AE will fit in that first paragraph.

BF will fit in the second paragraph.
CD will fit in the third paragraph.)
78.B
Solution:The British-born Australian singer and actress was best known for playing Sandy in
Grease, one of the most successful film musicals ever made.
79. D
Solution: As the Taliban advanced across Afghanistan last summer, capturing territory from
the Afghan government as foreign forces prepared to withdraw, we met Ainudeen, a
hardened Taliban fighter, in the northern district of Balkh.
80.A

336
Solution: In private, some other Taliban members who used to be on the frontlines admit
they're rather bored by their new office-based roles.
81.D
Solution: Upon its completion in 1914, this man-made waterway linking the Pacific and
Atlantic Oceans nearly halved the travel time between the US West Coast and Europe.
82. D
Solution: CAB
The complex (A) has been under Russian occupation (B) since early March, although
Ukrainian technicians (C) still operate it.
83.B
Solution: BCA
The plant's staff, Mr Kotin said, were working (A) under pressure (B) and in danger, and
some had been captured, beaten and tortured (C).
84.A
Solution: ACB
The tensions (A) have led to growing (B) calls for international inspectors to be allowed
(C) to visit the site.
85.B
Solution: CBA
Russian forces occupying (A) the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have turned (B) the
site into a military base to launch (C) attacks against Ukrainian positions, the head of
Ukraine's nuclear power company says.
86. A
Solution:The correct phrase is: due to not due of
87. A
Solution:Quiet must be replaced by “quite”.
88. E
Solution:The given sentence is error free.

337
medical tourism - Medical tourism refers to people traveling abroad to obtain medical
treatment.
An ill person can't do much physical activity. Hence, the author's apprehension.
Hence, a and c are absolutely right.

afflicted - sick.
b - Incorrect.
pecuniarily difficult - financially difficult.
Hence, it doesn't make any sense.)
Certainly. That's why the author thinks that The fact that the Haldwani authorities are
setting up some unused space on the premises of the prison for tourist
accommodation might prompt questions about the genuineness of the experience the
tourists would be paying for.
c - Incorrect. It's irrelevant.)
fastened - linked or connected.

nomad / wanderer - a person who does not stay long in the same place.
denizen - a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place.)
gaze / gape / peer (at) - look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or
thought.

338
offer / put forward / come up with - to provide.
occupy - reside in or lodge in.)
a - Correct.
Refer to - would inmates be getting a treat on the days tourists occupy their special
quarters?
b - Correct. Because, tourists will get the special facility.

Refer to - which might prompt questions about the genuineness of the experience the
tourists would be paying for.
c - Incorrect. It's absolutely contradictory.)
flood in - By extension, to move quickly into some place or thing in large numbers.
get by - To move past something, especially an obstacle or impediment of some kind.
move off - To move away or depart (from someone or something).
check off - To mark someone or something as present, verified, or completed, as on a list.
blow off - To engage in frivolous or unproductive activities.
cast off - To remove, dispose of, or shed something.)
96.(Answer - C. AF, BD and CE
cast back - To refer or think back to something.

339
cast up - To calculate something.
branch out - To explore something new; to widen one's interests or scope of expertise.)
97.(Answer - D. AE, BD and CF)
parse out - To make sense of or find meaning in something.
throw off - To rid oneself of someone or something; to cast someone or something out.
whine about - To complain about someone or something in an irritating, childish, or peevish

way.)
98.(Answer - A. Only M and N
spot of lunch - Some food for lunch, especially when it is small or eaten quickly.
drawing board - The initial process of planning or composing something. An actual drawing
board is a large board on which one can spread paper and draw.
all the way live - Excellent; exceptional.

But, it's talking about live telecast.)
flame war - An exchange of angry or inflammatory messages online, as on a forum or

message board.
flaming galah - a total fool.
the block is hot - The police are currently in the area.)

340
default on - To fail to repay a loan on something.
cut the mustard - come up to expectations; reach the required standard.

foot the bill for - to pay debt.
founder - to fail.
shell out (for) - pay a specified amount of money.
show up / turn up / come along - to arrive.

relish - to enjoy.)
disarray / chaos / mayhem - a state of disorganization.
stand by - be present while something bad is happening but fail to take any action to stop it.
dissent / cry out - protest.
cherish / hold dear - to treasure.)
These two statements explain the actual situation in a very positive tone, in which the
passage has been framed.
Sri Lanka's win at Asia cup has been deemed very significant by the author.
Hence, these two statements are absolutely correct.
c - Incorrect.
It's incorrect due to one wrong word.
That word is - pinprick.
pinprick - sth that causes irritation.
This word should be replaced with 'balm'.)
b can easily be eliminated.

341
The phrase - cricket might appear incongruous - is contradictory to the idea of power
of sports.
incongruous - not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of

something.
a and c are absolutely positive and reassuring.)
rock-ribbed - high-spirited.
stout-hearted - determined.
of the first water - highly admirable.)
precarious - unstable and uncertain.

deficient - wanting or insufficient.
indispensable - invaluable.
It's contradictory.)
purvey - to issue or distribute.)
Refer to - RBI seems, rightly, disinclined to make a hasty transition to CBDC.
judicious - rational and thoughtful.
hurried - in a hurry.
erroneous - illogical.
These two are absolutely contradictory.)

342
far-reaching - revolutionary; having important and widely applicable effects or implications.
round-the-clock - all day and all night.

full of beans - lively.)
109.(Answer - C. c b
b d a f e c)
circumspection - the quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence; caution.
wariness - caution.
called-for - required or demanded.
superfluous - unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.)
innocuous - harmless.
ineffectual - ineffective.
It can't be derived.
productive - effective.
It can't be derived too.)
112. (Answer - C. c b

343
b d a f e c)

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4

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You'll only need to carry on practising consistently, as steady and

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ABOUT NIMISHA BANSAL

Nimisha Bansal is one of India's most eminent educators of English

She is not only a highly-competent pedagog, but also a wonderful

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Finally, the temptation to give up is a common one, and nobody is

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Ishika Saini (SBI PO 2021-2022)

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ISHIKA SAINI : My target was to study 7 - 8 hours a day. I used to give

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S.No. Chapter Name Page no

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CHAPTER 1 - READING COMPREHENSION

a. The satellite launch vehicle Nuri was mechanically a complete failure.

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A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c

a. The rocket launched in 2010 by Seoul failed outright.

A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c

a. South Korea has the intention to execute future launches of Nuri.

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A. Only a B. Only b and c C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c

A. Only a and c B. Only b and c C. Only b D. Only c E. All a, b and c

A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. Only a E. All a, b and c

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A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. Only b E. All a, b and c

9. Which of the following statements can be CONTEXTUALLY LINKED to the above

A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b