Dear readers:
We are glad to announce that we are going to introduce ‘Empower Your English’ and ‘Test of Aptitude’ in this section as a regular feature with the current issue of this magazine. You will find the exercises highly useful for various English language based tests and other tests, viz. GRE, TOEFL, SAT etc.
To begin with, we have included exercises on four sections, viz. (1) Vocabulary (2) Antonyms (3) Synonyms, and (4) Sentence comprehension
Vocabulary:
Directions: Choose the option that is closest in meaning to the given word.
1. Diverting
(a) getting to the heart of things; to the point
(b) entertaining; distracting; deflecting; amusing
(c) indifferent; submissive; nonchalant; self-satisfied; at ease
(d) free from local prejudices; worldly
2. Antithetical
(a) having to do with shepherds or the country; rural
(b) opposed; contrary
(c) full of enthusiasm or eagerness; passionate; excited
(d) hot and moist; sensuous; stifling
3. Anonymous
(a) nameless; unidentified
(b) reverent; sincere; pious; earnest; religious
(c) attacking; offensive; hostile; forceful; bold
(d) despotic; dictatorial
4. Protuberant
(a) omnipresent;
present everywhere
(b) sick; having a sickly yellow coloring
(c) developed or matured earlier than usual
(d) bulging; swelling out; jutting out
5. Extinct
(a) often of mistakes; extremely and noticeably bad; flagrant; rude
(b) living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals; depraved; licentious; corrupt
(c) dead; vanished; gone
(d) traveling about; wandering
Antonyms
DIRECTION: Choose the most appropriate word opposite (antonym) in meaning to the word.
1. MUNDANE :
[ A ] Quotidian
[ B ] Consequential
[ C ] Bashful
[ D ] Obsequious
2. TACITURN :
[ A ] Rational
[ B ] philosophic
[ C ] Confusing
[ D ] Garrulous
3. PLETHORA :
[ A ] Sampling
[ B ] Lesson
[ C ] Dearth
[ D ] Deformity
4. ARDUOUS :
[ A ] responsible
[ B ] Effortless
[ C ] appreciable
[ D ] Friendly
5. AUDACIOUS :
[ A ] Timorous
[ B ] Capricious
[ C ] unsatisfactory
[ D ] recalcitrant
Synonyms
Direction: Choose the most appropriate word closest in meaning (synonyms) to the word given below
1. BOISTEROUS
[ A ] conflicting
[ B ] Noisy
[ C ] testimonial
[ D ] Grateful
2. CONJECTURE
[ A ] magic
[ B ] guess
[ C ] position
[ D ] form
3. INGENUOUS
[ A ] Clever
[ B ] Stimulating
[ C ] Naïve
[ D ] Worried
4. TARRY
[ A ] polish
[ B ] restrain
[ C ] surpass
[ D ] linger
5. BOMBASTIC
[ A ] sensitive
[ B ] pompous
[ C ] rapid
[ D ] sufficient
sENTENCE Comprehension:
Directions: Choose the most appropriate pair of words and fill in the blanks according to the context.
1. Usually the press secretary’s relies are terse, if not downright _____; but this afternoon his responses to our questions were remarkably comprehensive, almost ______
[ A ] rude …… concise
[ B ] curt …… verbose
[ C ] long –winded …… effusive
[ D ] enigmatic ….. taciturn
2. The author presumably believes that all businessmen are _____, for her main characters, whatever qualities they ,may lack, are virtual paragons of _____.
[ A ] clever ……ingenuity
[ B ] covetous ….. greed
[ C ] virtuous ….. deceit
[ D ] successful ……. Ambition
3. Ginnie expects her every submission to be published or selected for performance, and this time her _____ is likely to be _____.
[ A ] candor …… dispelled
[ B ] anticipation ……. Piqued
[ C ] enthusiasm ….. dampened
[ D ] optimism ….. vindicated
4. His desire to state his case completely was certainly reasonable; however, his lengthy technical explanations were monotonous and tended to ______ rather than _____ the jury.
[ A ] enlighten …… inform
[ B ] interest …… persuade
[ C ] provoke …… influence
[ D ] bore ….. convince
5. In some countries, government restrictions are so _____ that businesses operate with nearly complete impunity.
[ A ] traditional
[ B ] judicious
[ C ] ambiguous
[ D ] lax
II Test of Aptitude
1. Directions: Arrange the given words in the sequence in which they occur in the dictionary and then choose the correct sequence.
Preach Praise Precinct Precept
[ A ] 2, 1, 4, 3
[ B ] 2, 1, 3, 4
[ C ] 2, 1, 4, 3
[ D ] 1, 2, 4, 3
2. Wrinkle Wriggle Writhe Wretch
[ A ] 4, 1, 2, 3
[ B ] 4, 2, 1, 3
[ C ] 4, 2, 3, 1
[ D ] 2, 1, 3, 4
3. Directions: If the letters of the given alphabet interchange positions, so that A takes the place of Z and Z takes the place of A; B takes the place of Y and Y takes the place of B and so on, what will be the thirteenth letter from the right?
[ A ] M
[ B ] N
[ C ] O
[ D ] L
4. If the first ten letters of the given alphabet are written in the reverse order, which of the following letters will be the seventh to the left of the twelfth letter from the right end?
[ A ] B
[ B ] C
[ C ] H
[ D ] I
5. Directions: In the following list of letters, how many O’s are followed by Q’s but not preceded by D’s?
D O Q O D Q O D O D Q D O Q D S D Q P
O Q D S S S D O Q O Q D O Q D D D O Q
[ A ] 0
[ B ] 1
[ C ] 2
[ D ] 3
6. How many T’s are there in the following sequence which are immediately preceded by P but not immediately followed by S?
S T P Q T S P T R P T S R P S T Q P T R P T M P T S
[ A ] 4
[ B ] 1
[ C ] 3
[ D ] 2
7. Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question. A group of letters is given which are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Below are given four alternatives containing combinations of these numbers. Select that combination of numbers so that letters arranged accordingly, form a meaningful word.
T R I F U
1 2 3 4 5
[ A ] 3 1 2 4 5
[ B ] 4 2 5 3 1
[ C ] 4 3 2 1 5
[ D ] 5 3 2 1 4
8. G T A E N M
1 2 3 4 5 6
[ A ] 1 3 2 5 4 6
[ B ] 1 3 2 6 4 5
[ C ] 6 3 5 1 4 2
[ D ] 6 3 1 5 4 2
9. Which one word can be formed from the following letters?
a a d e f g r s u
[ A ] Stagnation
[ B ] Safeguard
[ C ] Pseudo-grade
[ D ] Grandson
10. Which one word can be formed from the following letters?
a a b c i l l n o o o r t
[ A ] Collapsible
[ B ] Locomotive
[ C ] Courfulness
[ D ] collaboration
11. The letters of the word NUMKIPP are in disorder. If they are arranged in proper order, the name of a vegetable is formed. What is the last letter of the word so formed?
[ A ] K
[ B ] M
[ C ] N
[ D ] P
12. If by arranged the letters of the word NABMODINT, the name of a game is formed, what are the first and the last letters of the word so formed?
[ A ] B, T
[ B ] B, N
[ C ] N, D
[ D ] A, T
For Answers See page ( 49 )
------------------------------------------
Test of Aptitude
1. Directions: Arrange the given words in the sequence in which they occur in the dictionary and then choose the correct sequence.
Preach Praise Precinct Precept
[ A ] 2, 1, 4, 3
[ B ] 2, 1, 3, 4
[ C ] 2, 1, 4, 3
[ D ] 1, 2, 4, 3
2. Wrinkle Wriggle Writhe Wretch
[ A ] 4, 1, 2, 3
[ B ] 4, 2, 1, 3
[ C ] 4, 2, 3, 1
[ D ] 2, 1, 3, 4
3. Directions: If the letters of the given alphabet interchange positions, so that A takes the place of Z and Z takes the place of A; B takes the place of Y and Y takes the place of B and so on, what will be the thirteenth letter from the right?
[ A ] M
[ B ] N
[ C ] O
[ D ] L
4. If the first ten letters of the given alphabet are written in the reverse order, which of the following letters will be the seventh to the left of the twelfth letter from the right end?
[ A ] B
[ B ] C
[ C ] H
[ D ] I
5. Directions: In the following list of letters, how many O’s are followed by Q’s but not preceded by D’s?
D O Q O D Q O D O D Q D O Q D S D Q P
O Q D S S S D O Q O Q D O Q D D D O Q
[ A ] 0
[ B ] 1
[ C ] 2
[ D ] 3
6. How many T’s are there in the following sequence which are immediately preceded by P but not immediately followed by S?
S T P Q T S P T R P T S R P S T Q P T R P T M P T S
[ A ] 4
[ B ] 1
[ C ] 3
[ D ] 2
7. Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question. A group of letters is given which are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Below are given four alternatives containing combinations of these numbers. Select that combination of numbers so that letters arranged accordingly, form a meaningful word.
T R I F U
1 2 3 4 5
[ A ] 3 1 2 4 5
[ B ] 4 2 5 3 1
[ C ] 4 3 2 1 5
[ D ] 5 3 2 1 4
8. G T A E N M
1 2 3 4 5 6
[ A ] 1 3 2 5 4 6
[ B ] 1 3 2 6 4 5
[ C ] 6 3 5 1 4 2
[ D ] 6 3 1 5 4 2
9. Which one word can be formed from the following letters?
a a d e f g r s u
[ A ] Stagnation
[ B ] Safeguard
[ C ] Pseudo-grade
[ D ] Grandson
10. Which one word can be formed from the following letters?
a a b c i l l n o o o r t
[ A ] Collapsible
[ B ] Locomotive
[ C ] Courfulness
[ D ] collaboration
11. The letters of the word NUMKIPP are in disorder. If they are arranged in proper order, the name of a vegetable is formed. What is the last letter of the word so formed?
[ A ] K
[ B ] M
[ C ] N
[ D ] P
12. If by arranged the letters of the word NABMODINT, the name of a game is formed, what are the first and the last letters of the word so formed?
[ A ] B, T
[ B ] B, N
[ C ] N, D
[ D ] A, T
For Answers See page ( 49 )