Communication Skills

This resource is for Round 1 and contribute to a small portion

of the overall ESAT. Career track specific skills and related
questions are going to be intuitive & will not require any
additional preparations.

Concept
The ability of a person to explain thoughts using words in a clear and understandable
manner is known as verbal ability. In competitive tests, verbal ability is a critical
component. A good vocabulary and sentence-forming skills are essential for aspirants
who want to do well in Verbal Ability.

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 Some of the topics usually asked in verbal ability:
This is just an indicative list but not exhaustive: Reading Comprehensions, Fill in the
Blanks/Sentence completion, Error Detection, Para jumbles, Vocabulary & Grammar,
One Word Substitution, Idioms and Phrases, Antonyms and Synonyms.

Some of the topics are discussed in brief.

Reading Comprehension (RC)

Reading Comprehension (RC) is the ability to actively read the information (mostly
passages) provided and assimilate the information to answer a given set of questions.
So, to solve the reading comprehension questions, one must be able to:

Understand the crux of the passage

Answer questions based on the text provided

Develop a perspective on the tone and tenor of the given passage

The most followed rule in the RC section is to understand what you read. It will
prove a boon for you if you are able to read fast. Nevertheless, speed is always
secondary to understanding. Below are some tips for exam-preparation.

You must answer these questions before starting your preparation for RC:

What are the types of questions that are asked in a Comprehension?

What should be the strategy to follow for answering Comprehension?

What skills can be tested in Comprehension?

How should one improve in Comprehension?

Sentence Rearrangement & Para jumbles

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 Sentence rearrangement, as the name implies, is the process of rearranging a group of
lines that are jumbled in the question. Candidates must first put the sentences in the
correct order before answering questions about them.

The theme, topic, or region from which the jumbled sentences may be chosen is
amorphous, and applicants must carefully analyze the assertions in order to respond to
the question.

The types of questions that may be asked are as follows:

All of the statements are in the correct order.

Any single statement's correct order

Identify the passage's opening statement

To find the passage's final statement, and so on

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 Sample Questions

Case 1

Child psychology is certainly not a strong point with most Indian schools, why else
would it inflict a double trauma on a student faring badly in the pre-boards by banning
her from taking the exams.

Often with fatal results as evidenced by reports of student suicides in the run-up to the
board. Now the Central-Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has stepped in and put
the brakes on the CBSE. This is good news for parents and students, many of whom
have had to live with the threat performance-linked department.

While the schools' logic is that in order to attract talented students, need to maintain
their performance records at high levels. The assumption that a student faring poorly in
the pre boards will replicate this at the boards is faulty.

Chances are that the student will be spurred to work doubly hard, On the other hand,
the threat of department will almost certainly impact adversely her performance. Of
course, linking pre-boards to the boards is only one of the problems with our school
system.

Question 1. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word Spur as
used in the passage.

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 A) Depress
B) Enlarge
C) Explicate
D) Sustain
E) Activate

Answer: Option B
Explanation:

The opposite meaning of 'spur' is 'enlarge'.

Question 2. Which is the good news for parents, according to the passage?

A) School will take the responsibility of preparing students for the board
B) School will provide study facilities to the poor students
C) Schools will enforce discipline to ensure higher attendances of students
D) No student can be barred from the boards without prior clearance from the CBSE
E) Teachers will be able to handle students well, if they know child psychology

Answer: Option E
Explanation:

The good news for parents is that the teachers will be able to handle students well, if
they know child psychology.

Question 3. What is the ruling of the CBSE?

A) Students must pass the pre-board exam before appearing for the board exam
B) Schools should follow the practice of performance linked department
C) Schools should maintain the performance round of students at high level
D) School must motivate students to work hard

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 E) Before barring any student for the board schools must take prior permission of the
CBSE

Answer: Option B
Explanation

The ruling of the CBSE is "Students must pass the pre-board exam before appearing for
the board exam".

Question 4. What is the faulty assumption of schools, according to the passage ?

A) Students who do not do well at pre-boards will be motivated to work hard
B) Pre-boards are generally easy and therefore students take them lightly
C) Students who fare poorly at the pre board will fail at the boards
D) Learning by rote is a better method of learning
E) Students perform well in languages than that of science subjects.

Answer: Option C
Explanation

The faulty assumption of schools is "Students who fare poorly at the pre-board will fail at
the boards. "

Question 5.Which of the following according to the passage is the problem with our
school system?

A) Providing study facilities to the students

B) Linking pre-board performance of students to the boards
C) Teachers lack of knowledge of child psychology
D) Attracting talented students
E) Low percentage of students passing the board exam

Answer: Option B
Explanation

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 The problem with the school system is 'linking pre-board performance of students to the
boards'.

Case 2:
Directions: Given below are six sentences (A), (B), (D), (E) and (F) which are jumbled
up. Rearrange these sentences in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph,
then answer the given questions.

A legal framework is, thus, now available for promoting energy efficiency in all sectors of
the economy. The increasing preference for commercial energy has led to a sharp
increase in the demand for electricity and fossil fuels. There is still a considerable
potential for repairing such damage and reducing energy consumption by adopting
energy efficiency measures at various sectors of our country. This framework is nothing
but the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, the success of which greatly depends on the
people who take the lead in supporting this programme. This use of fossil fuels has
resulted in emission of a huge quantity of carbon dioxide causing serious environmental
damage. These adopted measures will not only reduce the need to create new capacity
requiring high investment, but also result in substantial environmental benefits.

Question 1. Which of the following will be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Answer: Option B

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 Which of the following will be the FOURTH sentence rearrangement?

A) C
B) F
C) A
D) D
E) B

Answer: Option B

Question 2.Which of the following will be the SECOND sentence rearrangement?

A) B
B) C
C) D
D) E
E) F

Answer: Option D

Question 3. Which of the following will be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after
rearrangement?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Answer: Option D

Question 4. Which of the following be the FIFTH sentence rearrangement?

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 A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Answer: Option A

Common Explanation:

Sentence E is the next statement. it supports the opening line with example and
describes about a huge quantity of carbon dioxide causing serious environmental
damage.

Sentence C will be the next statement. it describes about repairing the damage and
reducing energy in various sectors of our country.

Sentence F is the next statement. it describes about it result in substantial

environmental benefits.

Sentence A is the next statement. it deals with promoting energy efficiency in all
sectors of the economy.

entence D will be the closing statement. it concludes that the success of which
greatly depends on the people who take the lead in supporting this program.

Hence, BECFAD is the correct sequence.

Case 3
Directions: Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given
idiom / phrase/ word.
To burn one's fingers

A) To have a burning sensation at the tips of one's fingers

B) To undergo suffering heroically for one's principles

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 C) To behave as if one is very greater and important

D) To be lucky

E) None of the above

Answer: Option E
Explanation
The following are the meaning and sample sentence for the given idiom/ phrase/ word.
Meaning: To burn one's fingers —To suffer unpleasant results of an action

Sample sentence: Get rich quick schemes are usually meant to burn the fingers of the
investors, some more than the others.

Case 4
Directions: Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given
idiom / phrase/ word.
He struck several bad patches before he made good.

[Syndicate Bank (PO), 2004]

A) came across bad sail

B) want through many illnesses

C) had a bumpy car ride

D) had many professional difficulties

E) None of the above

Answer: Option D
Explanation

The following are the meaning and sample sentence for the given idiom/ phrase/ word.
Meaning: Struck several bad patches—Had many professional difficulties

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 Sample sentence: Our marriage went through a struck several bad patches after
john lost his job, but now, we love each other more than ever.

Case 5
Directions: Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the given
idiom / phrase/ word.
Veera has unknowingly bitten off more than she can chew.

A) been very greedy

B) always been hungry

C) an upset stomach

D) little regard for others

E) None of these

Answer: Option E
Explanation
The following are the meaning and sample sentence for the given idiom/ phrase/ word.

Meaning: Bitten off more than she can chew — To decide or try to do than her ability
Sample sentence: By accepting two part-time jobs, he is clearly biting off more than
he can chew.

Case 6
Directions: Choose the best alternative which expresses the SAME meaning as the
given word.

Hamper

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 A) open
B) hide
C) notice
D) hinder @
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Hamper(Noun)= A basket or box containing food for a special occasion. It is similar to
the word 'Hinder'

Synonym: Hobble, Obstruct, Hinder

Antonym: Expedite, Liberate, Advance
Sample sentence: There will be lots of extra prizes including a raffle for a hamper,
bottles etc.

Case 7
Directions: Choose the best alternative which expresses the SAME meaning as the
given word.
Excruciating

A) severe
B) throbbing
C) tender
D) excruciating @
E) raw

Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Excruciating(Adj)= Very embarrassing, awkward, or tedious. It is similar to the word
'Excruciating'
Synonym: Agonising, Excruciating, Painful

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 Antonym: Pleasing, Soothing, Facile

Sample sentence: They talked about pedicures and shopping in excruciating detail.

Case 8
Direction: Spot the grammatical errors in the given sentence. Mark the part with error
as your answer. If there is no error, mark "No error" as the answer. (Ignore punctuation
error)
The angry at being (a)/ left out Of the bonanza (b)/ is palpable among (c)/ employees of
the organisation. (d)/ No error (e)

A) The angry at being

B) left out of the bonanza

C) is palpable among
D) employees of the organisation

E) No error

Answer: Option A
Explanation

In Part A, the use of word 'angry' should be replaced by 'anger' to make the sentence
correct
Correction: The anger at being
Hence, option A is correct.

Case 9

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 Direction: Spot the grammatical errors in the given sentence. Mark the part with error
as your answer. If there is no error, mark "No error" as the answer. (Ignore punctuation
error)
If all goes well (a)/ the examination scheduled for next month (b)/ is all set to be
completely free (c)/ from annaxies. power cuts and disruptions. (d)/ No error (e)

A) If all goes well

B) the examination scheduled for next month
C) is all set to be completely free
D) from annaxies. power cuts and disruptions
E) No error

Answer: Option B
Explanation
In Part B, the word 'the' should be added before the use of word 'next' to make the
sentence correct

Correction: the examination scheduled for the next month

Hence, option B is correct.

Case 10
Direction: Spot the grammatical errors in the given sentence. Mark the part with error
as your answer. If there is no error, mark "No error" as the answer. (Ignore punctuation
error)

The celebrations continued (a)/ through the evening as more, (b)/ and more friends
joins (c)/ in the fun and frolic. (d)/ No error (e)

A) The celebrations continued

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 B) through the evening as more
C) and more friends joins
D) in the fun and frolic
E) No error

Answer: Option C
Explanation
In Part C, the use of word 'joins' should be replaced by 'join' to make the sentence
correct
Correction: and more friends join

Hence, option C is correct.

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