Express

English Usage 01
Vocabulary, Idioms, Proverbs, Foreign Words and
Figures of Speech

Number of Questions : 60 CEX–9412/20

Directions for questions 1 to 5: Find the word that 8. Camaraderie

is closest in meaning to the word given in the (a) Intimacy (b) Sociability
question. (c) Conviviality (d) Antagonism

9. Chagrin
1. Hidrosis
(a) Grumpiness (b) Spleen
(a) Dehydration (b) Hinder
(c) Glee (d) Vexation
(c) Sweating (d) Humdrum
10. Temperate
2. Impervious (a) Clement (b) Callous
(a) Impeccable (b) Manipulative (c) Mild (d) Meek
(c) Weak (d) Unreceptive
Directions for questions 11 and 12: Choose the
3. Quagmire best word to complete each sentence. All the
(a) Quandary (b) Swamp sentences belong to the same paragraph. Hence,
(c) Worry (d) Puddle choose that word which best suits the context. Mark
the correct option as your answer.
4. Ardent 11. i. Among the groups the Nazi regime and
(a) Fervent (b) Dispassionate its Axis partners singled out for
(c) Lukewarm (d) Apathetic prosecution (A) / persecution (B) on so-
called racial grounds were the Roma
5. Impudence (Gypsies).
ii. Drawing support from many non-Nazi
(a) Audacity (b) Shallowness
Germans who harboured (A) / harnessed
(c) Timidity (d) Resistant
(B) social prejudice towards Roma, the
Nazis judged Roma to be “racially inferior.”
Directions for questions 6 to 10: Find the word iii. Under the Nazi regime, German
that is opposite in meaning to the word given in the authorities subjected Roma to arbitrary
question. interment (A) / internment (B), forced
labour, and mass murder.
6. Badger iv. German authorities butchered (A) /
(a) Goad (b) Hound marauded (B) tens of thousands of Roma
(c) Please (d) Hassle in the German-occupied territories of the
Soviet Union and Serbia and thousands
7. Banal more in the killing centres.
(a) Vapid (b) Bland (a) BBAB (b) AABB
(c) Trite (d) Original (c) BABA (d) ABBA

English Usage – 1 Page 1

12. i. While Arctic sea ice has shown a
relatively steady descent (A) / decline (B)
in square mileage over the past three
decades as global temperatures rise,
ii. its southern counterpart has yielded more
erroneous (A) / erratic (B) and controversial
data since monitoring began in the late
1970s.
iii. The February 14 mark for Antarctic sea
ice surpasses (A) / supersedes (B) lows
seen around this time in 1997.
iv. In 2012, Antarctic sea ice actually hit a
record monthly high, with scientists
theorizing (A) / prognosticating (B) that
melting ice shelves were contributing to
the growth.
(a) ABAB (b) ABBA
(c) BBAA (d) BABA
Directions for questions 13 to 15: Read the
questions and complete the sentences by choosing
the most appropriate word for each blank. Mark the
appropriate option as your answer.
13. The word “feminism” evokes a/an ________
response in India compared to the word
“dowry” which is almost ________ by the
society.
(a) vapid, acknowledged
(b) fanatic, ignored
(c) turbid, fascinated
(d) apocryphal, excited
14. ______ bans and clearance delays have
brought the natural resource sector in India
to a/an _____ position today.
(a) Total, sustainable
(b) Justified, unsustainable
(c) Catastrophic, enviable
(d) Blanket, untenable
15. “Part of the _____ of show business is
escaping the ______ of real life”, Hamill
says.
(a) routine, ordinary
(b) attraction, turtle-slow
(c) boredom, simplicity
(d) fun, drudgery
Page 2
Directions for questions 16 to 20: In the questions
below, idioms based on usage are given. Find which
of the following is incorrect.
16. (a) Even though the maid was only halfway
through cleaning the shoe rack, her hands
were as black as a skillet.
(b) Though we didn’t like her birthday dress,
we told her a white lie because we didn’t
want to spoil her mood on her special day.
(c) Because of blue tape, it took Robin six
months to get US visa.
(d) Jane was green with envy when she saw
her ex-boyfriend dating her cousin.
17. (a) The regional manager has opened a
whole new can of worms for his
subordinates.
(b) Can you please share the exact location
of where we should go? We are sick of
being on a wild goose chase.
(c) A little bird told me about their love affair.
(d) During the exam, the invigilator watched
like an eagle to ensure no malpractices
were performed.
18. (a) She’s got a chip on her shoulder
because she’s is a proletariat.
(b) Lucy’s comment gave Lucinda a reason
to celebrate, as the comment was close
to home for the latter.
(c) Whenever things go wrong in our office,
the entire team has to bear the brunt of
the boss’s anger.
(d) Alan has a habit of corking up his
feelings, which makes it difficult for one
to understand that he is in grief.
19. (a) I wish my designer could shed some light
on how my wedding dress would look like.
(b) My aunt has no kid of her own. She
therefore loves to advise me, and she’s
never short of nuggets of wisdom when
it comes to me.
(c) As against online shopping, offline
shopping costs a long arm, due to the
money that one spends on overpriced fuel.
(d) My brother let the cat out of the bag by
telling our parents about their anniversary
plan.
English Usage – 1
20. (a) Huck had such a pale face when he (E) Kick the bucket (v) An obnoxious
learned that his mother was going to the person or situation
US with his younger brother.
(b) Indians are believed to be poor at keeping (a) A-i, B-iii, C-v, D-ii, E-iv
a stiff upper lip. (b) A-v, B-iv, C-iii, D-ii, E-i
(c) He was in a stew because there was no (c) A-v, B-i, C-iv, D-ii, E-iii
one who could help him organize the party. (d) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-v, E-ii
(d) It’s common to see political leaders go
bananas before and during the elections. 24. Column A Column B
A. Out of the blue (i)Signs of exhaustion
Directions for questions 21 to 25: Match the idioms B. Blue in the face (ii)Aristocratic
to their meanings. C. Blue collar (iii)Rarely
D. Feel blue (iv)Labourers
21. Column A Column B E. Blue blood (v)Sad
A. Dead ringer (i) Very easy
B. Dry run (ii) Replica (a) A-ii, B-v, C-i, D-iv, E-iii
C. Funny farm (iii) Testing (b) A-iii, B-i, C- iv, D-v, E-ii
D. High on hog (iv) Asylum (c) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-v, E-iii
E. Plum job (v) Affluent (d) A-v, B-iii, C- ii, D-i, E-iv
(a) A-i, B-iv, C-v, D-iii, E-ii
(b) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-v, E-i 25. Column A Column B
(c) A-ii, B-v, C-c, D-iv, E-i A. Fifth wheel (i) Unnecessary
(d) A-v, B-i, C-b, D-iii, E-iv B. Law of the jungle(ii) Observe carefully
C. Lie like a rug (iii) Survival of
22. Column A Column B the strongest
A. Chase your tail (i) Strike someone D. Keep tabs on (iv) No more young
powerfully E. No spring chicken(v) To use falsehood
B. Dead wood (ii) Transfer the blame
C. Acid test (iii) to rush around (a) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-v, E-ii
ineffectually (b) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-v, E-iv
D. Pack a wallop (iv) Barren (c) A-v, B-iii, C-i, D-ii, E-iv
E. Pass the buck (v) A concluding step (d) A-i, B-iii, C-v, D- ii, E-iv
to prove the value
Direction for questions 26 to 35: In each of the
(a) A-v, B-iii, C-i, D-ii, E- iv following questions, fill in the blank to complete the
(b) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-v, E- iii given proverb.
(c) A-ii, B-v, C-iv, D-iii, E- i
(d) A-iii, B-iv, C-v, D-i, E- ii 26. A leopard cannot change its _____.
(a) stripes
23. Column A Column B (b) dots
A. Pain in the neck (i) To reprimand (c) spots
B. Call on the carpet (ii) To handle the result (d) colours
of one’s own actions
C. Carrot and stick (iii) Die 27. All is _____ that comes to the _____.
D. Face the music (iv) Improve (a) toast, oven
performance (b) grist, mill
by contradictory (c) fair, love
moves (d) game, match

English Usage – 1 Page 3

28. Discretion is the better part of ______. Directions for questions 36 to 50: Given below are
(a) valour a few commonly used foreign words or phrases. From
(b) valediction the options, choose the correct meaning of the given
(c) validation word/phrase.
(d) victory
36. Joie De Vivre
29. If the ______ won’t come to Muhammad, (a) The joining of vivid souls
Muhammad must go to the _____. (b) To juxtapose to vital parts
(a) money
(c) The joy of being vital to an organization
(b) God
(d) The joy of living
(c) water
(d) mountain
37. Soiree
30. The _____ can quote _____ for his purpose. (a) Sophomore
(a) apple, the orange (b) A class party
(b) devil, scripture (c) Sure and certain
(c) evil man, the Bible (d) A suave woman
(d) stupid, Plato
38. Savoir-Faire
31. Mighty oaks from little _____ grow. (a) To be savvy in feasting
(a) rivers (b) To save someone from being fired
(b) grass (c) Knowing the right thing to say or do
(c) seeds (d) Knowing when to save for future
(d) acorns
39. Mon Dieu
32. _____ and _____ may break my bones but (a) My goodness
names will never hurt me. (b) My duty
(a) Sticks, rubbles (c) Major debt
(b) Stones, rubbles (d) Minor debt
(c) Sticks, stones
(d) Stones, words
40. Al Fresco
33. Don’t look a gift ______ in the _____. (a) In the free land
(a) elephant, trunk (b) In the open air
(b) box, lid (c) Have the free spirit
(c) horse, mouth (d) Have the open handed gesture
(d) wrap, corner
41. Ultra vires
34. I will _____ the _____ when I come to it. (a) Within one’s legal power
(a) walk, river (b) Beyond one’s legal power
(b) cross, bridge (c) An ultra-conservative approach
(c) cry, river (d) To the maximum extent
(d) take, challenge
42. Stare decisis
35. You can’t make a/an ____ without breaking a (a) To stare down the opposition
few ____. (b) Of the fullest confidence
(a) salad, nails (c) To abide by precedent
(b) house, bricks (d) A decision taken during trial
(c) emblem, rules
(d) omelette, eggs

Page 4 English Usage – 1

43. Sangfroid Direction for questions 51 to 60: Identify the figure
(a) Solicitude of speech used in the given sentence.
(b) Perturbation
(c) Equanimity 51. The shadow of the moon danced on the lake.
(d) Excitable (a) Simile
(b) Personification
44. Caveat Emptor (c) Alliteration
(a) Let the seller beware (d) Analogy
(b) Let the manufacturer beware
(c) Let the tenant beware 52. His eye met hers as she sat there paler and
(d) Let the buyer beware whiter than anyone in the vast ocean of
anxious faces about her.
45. Fait Accompli
(a) Synecdoche
(a) Fait of the accomplice
(b) Metonym
(b) Fait of the defendant
(c) Personification
(c) An established fact
(d) Oxymoron
(d) A fateful action or decision
53. I knew we had left the city when I could hear
46. Faux Pas
(a) Facts of the case the gentle moo of the cows in the field.
(b) A pause in a conversation (a) Metaphor
(c) A political fiasco (b) Alliteration
(d) A social blunder (c) Onomatopoeia
(d) Personification
47. Amour Propre
(a) Proper conduct 54. The moment he entered; the room filled with
(b) Self-respect a deafening silence.
(c) Auspicious year (a) Euphemism
(d) Forever (b) Anaphora
(c) Metonym
48. Au Courant (d) Oxymoron
(a) Detailed knowledge
(b) Fine arts 55. The shirt does not suit him at all since he is
(c) Fashionable society vertically challenged.
(d) Well informed (a) Euphemism
(b) Anaphora
49. Beau Geste (c) Metonym
(a) Noble and generous act (d) Oxymoron
(b) Simple and natural way
(c) Highest standard of excellence 56. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
(d) Sweet note foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was
the epoch of incredulity….
50. Compos Mentis (a) Epistrophe
(a) An integrated approach (b) Anaphora
(b) Stroke of grace
(c) Fallacy
(c) Cry from the heart
(d) Eulogy
(d) Sane

English Usage – 1 Page 5

57. The girl was dying to try on the new dress. 59. At exam time, the students are as busy as a
(a) Euphemism bee.
(b) Idiom (a) Metaphor
(c) Epiphany (b) Simile
(d) Hyperbole (c) Anaphora
(d) Parable
58. It is not about the years in one’s life, but the
life in one’s years. 60. Anjali has a very bubbly personality.
(a) Chiasmus (a) Metaphor
(b) Cacophony (b) Simile
(c) Antimetabole (c) Chiasmus
(d) Parable (d) Idiom

SOME COMMON FIGURES OF SPEECH WITH MEANING AND EXAMPLES

Figure Of
S.No. Definition Example
Speech
She sells seashells by
1. Alliteration The repetition of an initial consonant sound.
the seashore.
Unfortunately, I was in
The repetition of the same word or phrase at
the wrong place at the
2. Anaphora the beginning of successive clauses or
wrong time on the
verses.
wrong day.
Your argument is
sound, nothing but
sound. – Benjamin
It is a rhetorical device in which a word is
Franklin.
repeated and whose meaning changes in the
3. Antanaclasis The word sound in the
second instance. Antanaclasis is a common
first instance means
type of pun.
solid or reasonable.
The second instance of
sound means empty.
As Abraham Lincoln
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in said, "Folks who have
4. Antithesis
balanced phrases. no vices have very few
virtues."
“Oh, you stupid car,
Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an
you never work when I
5. Apostrophe inanimate object as though it were a living
need you to," Bert
being.
sighed.
Identity or similarity in sound between internal
6. Assonance How now, brown cow?
vowels in neighboring words.
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an The famous chef said
7. Chiasmus expression is balanced against the first but people should live to
with the parts reversed. eat, not eat to live.
Vertically challenged
The substitution of an inoffensive term for one
8. Euphemism for someone who is
considered offensively explicit.
short.

Page 6 English Usage – 1

 An extravagant statement; the use of
I have a ton of things to
9. Hyperbole exaggerated terms for the purpose of
do when I get home.
emphasis or heightened effect.
The use of words to convey the opposite of "Oh, I love spending big
their literal meaning. Also, a statement or bucks," said my dad, a
10. Irony
situation where the meaning is contradicted by notorious penny
the appearance or presentation of the idea. pincher.
A figure of speech consisting of an
A million dollars is no
11. Litotes understatement in which an affirmative is
small chunk of change.
expressed by negating its opposite.
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is "That stuffed suit with
substituted for another with which it is closely the briefcase is a poor
12. Metaphor associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of excuse for a
describing something indirectly by referring to salesman," the
things around it. manager said angrily.
A figure of speech in which incongruous or "He popped the jumbo
13. Onomatopoeia
contradictory terms appear side by side. shrimp in his mouth."
small crowd, definitely
An oxymoron is when you use two words
14. Oxymoron possible, old news, little
together that have contradictory meanings.
giant,
"This is the beginning
of the end," said
15. Paradox A statement that appears to contradict itself.
Eeyore, always the
pessimist.
That kitchen knife will
A figure of speech in which an inanimate
take a bite out of your
16. Personification object or abstraction is endowed with human
hand if you don't handle
qualities or abilities.
it safely.
A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" Roberto was white as a
17. Simile or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar sheet after he walked
things that have certain qualities in common. out of the horror movie.
A figure of speech in which a part is used to Tina is learning her
18. Synecdoche
represent the whole. ABC's in preschool.
A statement that says the same thing twice in
Forward planning
19. Tautology different ways, or a statement that is
It's a free gift.
unconditionally true by the way it is phrased.
“ I have to have this
operation. It isn’t very
A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker
serious. I have this tiny
20. Understatement deliberately makes a situation seem less
little tumor on the
important or serious than it is.
brain.” – Catcher in the
Rye

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English Usage – 1 Page 7

 CEX–9412/20 English Usage – 1 Express

Answers and Explanations

1 c 2 d 3 b 4 a 5 a 6 c 7 d 8 d 9 c 10 b
11 c 12 c 13 b 14 d 15 d 16 c 17 d 18 b 19 c 20 a
21 b 22 d 23 c 24 b 25 d 26 c 27 b 28 a 29 d 30 b
31 d 32 c 33 c 34 b 35 d 36 d 37 b 38 c 39 a 40 b
41 b 42 c 43 c 44 d 45 c 46 d 47 b 48 d 49 a 50 d
51 b 52 a 53 c 54 d 55 a 56 b 57 d 58 c 59 b 60 a

1. c Hidrosis refers to the action of sweating. 12. c BBAA. “Descent” takes the preposition “into” and it
means “fall”. “Decline” fits this sentence the best.
2. d Impervious means resistant or unreceptive. Erroneous doesn’t fit the sentence thematically. In this
sentence, the author is not talking about any statistical
3. b Quagmire refers to a swamp. error. He is talking about “erratic or unpredictable”
behaviour. “Supersede” means “to surpass or
4. a Ardent means passionate or fervent. The other options succeed”. It doesn’t fit the context here.
are its antonyms. “Prognosticate” means to “predict”. The scientists, in
this sentence, discuss an actual event. Hence
5. a Impudence refers to courage or bravery. Hence, “theorizing” makes more sense.
audacity is the answer.
13. b The word “compared” suggests a contrast relation.
Vapid means lifeless. “Acknowledged” doesn’t fit the
6. c a, b, and d are its synonyms.
second blank as “almost acknowledged” doesn’t give
any accepted meaning in the context. (c) and (d) are
7. d Banal means unoriginal or clichéd. Hence, (d) is its eliminated for the second blank as “fascinated” and
antonym. “excited” don’t fit the context grammatically.

8. d Camaraderie refers to friendship. Enmity or Antagonism
is its antonym.
9. c Chagrin means irritation. Glee or delight is its antonym.
10. b Temperate means mild or meek or clement. Harsh or
Callous will be its antonyms.
11. c BABA. “Prosecution” refers to a trial. “Persecution”
refers to “harassment or torture”. The context of the
statement doesn’t suggest litigation or judicial action.
Hence, “persecution” best fits the blank. “Harboured”
means “keep a thought (mostly negative) in one’s mind”.
Harness as a verb refers to “control or make use of
natural resources”. The sentence talks about “social
prejudice”. Harness doesn’t fit this context. Interment
refers to burial or funeral. Internment means
imprisonment. Arbitrary burial doesn’t make any sense
in the context. Arbitrary internment imprisonment suits
the context. Butcher as a verb means “to kill
indiscriminately”. Maraud means “to steal or plunder”.
Hence, the answer is BABA.
14. d The second blank needs a negative word because of
“ban” and “clearance delays”. Hence, (a) and (c) can
be eliminated. “Unsustainable” and “Untenable” are
synonyms. Both fit the second blank. However,
“justified bans” doesn’t go with “clearance delays”. It
doesn’t match the tone of the sentence. “Blanket bans”
or “complete bans” can fit the first blank as it can have
a negative connotation.
15. d The word “escape” shows a contrast relationship.
“Ordinary” and “simplicity” don’t reflect this contrast.
“Turtle-slow” isn’t grammatically correct in the context.
Hence, (d) is the answer.
16. c The given set of sentences is based on colour based
usage of idioms. Option (c) is wrong because the
correct idiom is ‘red tape’, which means excessive
and rigid rules and regulations that hinders progress
or movement. ‘A white lie’ is a trivial lie, said to avoid
hurting one’s feelings. ‘Green with envy’ means
extremely envious. ‘Black as a skillet’ means completely
black.

English Usage – 1 Page 1

17. d Option (d) is wrong because the correct idiom is ‘watch
like a hawk’, which means to watch carefully. ‘Open a
whole new can of worms’ refers to a set of problems.
‘A little bird told me’ is used to indicate that the speaker
is aware about something but chooses to keep the
identity of his informant a secret. ‘Wild goose chase’
refers to a prolonged search for something that is
hard to locate.
29. d Both the blanks need the word “mountain”. The proverb
means, “If someone won’t do as you wish or a situation
can’t be arranged to suit you, you must accept it and
change your plans accordingly.”
30. b The proverb means “People may conceal unworthy
motives by reciting words that sound morally
authoritative.”

18. b The given set of sentences is based on emotion based 31. d
usage of idioms. Option (b) is wrong because the
contextual usage of the idiom is wrong. ‘Close to home’
is used when a remark makes you feel uncomfortable.
‘Chip on your shoulder’ is used when someone thinks 32. c
too highly of oneself. ‘Bear the brunt’ is used when
one has to suffer when something unpleasant occurs.
‘Cork up feelings’ is used when someone becomes 33. c
quiet, and stops expressing his feelings.
19. c Option (c) is wrong because the contextual usage of
34. b
the idiom is wrong. The correct idiom to be used in the
sentence is- ‘cost an arm and a leg’. This is used to
denote that something is expensive. ‘Shed some light’
35. d
is used when clarification is needed for something.
‘Nuggets of wisdom’ means valuable information,
suggestion or advice. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ is to
reveal a secret.
36. d
20. a Option (a) is wrong because the correct idiom is ‘long
face’. ‘Pale faced’ is a phrase and not an idiom. 37. b
Moreover, it is used to indicate that someone is ill.
‘Long face’ is an idiom that is used to denote sadness.
‘Keep a stiff upper lip’ is used to denote a situation 38. c
when one is strong enough to not display weak
emotions in difficult times. ‘In a stew’ means to be
worried and confused about something. ‘To go 39. a
bananas’ is to go crazy.
The proverb means “Something of small or modest
dimensions may grow into something very large or
impressive.”
This proverb is used to express indifference to an
insult or abuse.
This is the correct proverb. It means that you shouldn’t
find fault with something that you have discovered or
have been given.
The proverb means “I will deal with the problem when
the situation arises”.
It means “When you try to do something great, you’ll
probably make a few people annoyed or angry. Don’t
worry about those people; just focus on the good
results.”
It’s the French for enjoying life, and happy to be alive.
It is of French origin. It refers to a high-class party,
usually held in the evening.
It is of French origin. It means to know what and how
to do.
French for “my God”, usually used as a phrase to
show one’s surprise.

21. b Option (b) is the correct answer. 40. b It’s a Latin phrase which means “to be outside”.

22. d Option (d) is the correct answer. 41. b Ultra vires means acting or done beyond one’s legal
power or authority. An ultra vires action is void.
23. c Option (c) is the correct answer.
42. c Stare decisis means to stand by things decided; to
24. b Option (b) is the correct answer. abide by precedents when the same points come
again in litigation.
25. d Option (d) is the correct answer.
43. c Sangfroid refers to composure or coolness shown
26. c The correct proverb is “A leopard cannot change its in danger or under trying circumstances
spots” which means “one’s innate nature can’t be
changed”. 44. d Caveat Emptor comes from Latin and means let the
buyer beware.
27. b The proverb means “everything that is received or
obtained is put to use. Grist is corn to be ground.” 45. c Fait accompli is a French term that is used for an
established fact.
28. a The proverb means “It’s better to avoid a dangerous
situation than to confront it.” 46. d Faux Pas comes from the French language and means
a social blunder.

Page 2 English Usage – 1

47. b It is a French word that indicates self-respect (literal
translation – own love)
48. d Au courant is French for well informed, up to date.
49. a Beau Geste is French for fine gesture, a noble and
generous act.
50. d Compos mentis is Latin for sane; in full control of
one’s mind.
51. b Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing
– an idea or an animal – is given human attributes.
Here, the human skill of dancing has been attributed
to the shadow of the moon.
52. a Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of
something represents the whole, or it may use a
whole to represent a part. Here, ‘faces’ refers to
people and not just their faces. While synecdoche
and metonym resemble each other, they are not the
same. For example, calling a car “wheels” is a
synecdoche because a part of the car, its “wheels,”
stands for the whole car. However, in metonymy, the
word used to describe a thing is closely linked to that
particular thing but is not necessarily a part of it. For
example, using the word “crown” to refer to power
or authority is a metonymy.
53. c Onomatopoeia is a word or group of words that,
when spoken aloud, imitates the sound it produces.
Here, ‘moo’ indicates the sound made by cows.
54. d Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two
contradictory terms are combined in order to create a
rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The
word oxymoron is derived from the Greek
for pointedly foolish. Here, ‘deafening silence’
expresses the use of oxymoron.
English Usage – 1
55. a A euphemism is a polite expression used in place of
words or phrases that might otherwise be considered
harsh or unpleasant. In the sentence given above,
‘vertically challenged’ is a euphemism for short.
56. b In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of words
at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or
sentences in order to achieve an artistic effect is
known as Anaphora. In the sentence given above, ‘it
was the’ has been used repeatedly to focus on the
various aspects of the ‘age’. The lines have been
taken from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.
Anaphora is related to epistrophe, which is the
repetition of words at the end of successive clauses,
phrases, or sentences.
57. d Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning “over-
casting,” is a figure of speech that involves
an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to
emphasize the real situation. Here, ‘dying to try’ is a
hyperbole.
58. c Antimetabole is derived from a Greek word which
means “turning about.” It is a literary term or device
that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order.
Antimetabole and chiasmus are very closely related,
but both refer to two distinct literary devices. While
Antimetabole involves the inverted repetition of words
or phrases, Chiasmus involves the repetition of similar
concepts within a repeated and inverted grammatical
structure, but not necessarily the repetition of the
same words.
59. b One of the most commonly used figures of speech, a
simile makes a direct comparison, showing similarities
between two different things. It draws resemblance
with the help of the words “like” or “as.”
60. a A metaphor is a figure of speech containing an implied
comparison. With metaphors, words or phrases that
are ordinarily applied to one thing are applied to
something you wouldn’t necessarily pair it with.
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