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Class Exercise 1
1. Globalisation is the reality of the world we inhabit. It manifests in the challenges the world faces, be it terrorism,
cyber security, the wellbeing of the financial system, refugees and migration, or climate change,____________.
(a) history shows that multilateralism is the best safeguard against unilateralism, tyranny of power
(b) Developing countries like India have a great stake in defending multilateralism and mobilising opinion against
its powerful traducers
(c) and the rising tide of hyper-nationalist isolationist tendencies do pose challenges to the multilateral order
that has underpinned international relations
(d) The sheer interdependence and interconnectedness precludes the possibility of a nation working alone to
build a safer and better world
(e) as well as in the opportunities that have allowed much of Asia to prosper
2. The government has come out with an ordinance to extinguish the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and to
penalise______________ after the deadline of March 31 for their surrender at RBI branches.
(a) Extinguishing demonetised notes is perfectly understandable
(b) That is the only way to legally remove the RBI‘s liability to honour the notes in question
(c) possession of more than a handful of these notes
(d) from where the government can be paid extra dividends
(e) But why penalise possession of old notes?
3. It suggests ignorance of numismatic practices. Collectors of currency notes have at least two notes of each
kind,______________. Notes differ not just by denomination.
(a) note of the self-same denomination can have multiple variants, differing in size, colour, design
(b) signature of the RBI governor of the time, inset alphabet, curious numbers and errors
(c) A casual collector might have say, 20 notes each of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes
(d) one to display the obverse and the other to display the reverse
(e) the government wants to punish them for their collector‘s passion
4. Once demonetised,_______________, nor can they be used for transactions. But they can serve as units of
account in say, a game of Monopoly. Why not let something that has been rendered a plaything serve as a
plaything?
(a) these notes no longer store value
(b) This is patently absurd and calls for at least one more of the U-turns at which the government and the RBI
have become adept
(c) If the aim were to penalise someone for having hidden income from the government in the past, the law
already provides for it but the penalty has to be linked to the extent of concealment
(d) Penalising possession of old notes is like penalising possession of floppy discs,
(e) the government has better things to do than to harry collectors of quaint things
5. Company promoters who get the bulk of their income as dividends pay a lower proportion of their income as
tax as compared _______________taxable at the highest marginal rate.
(a) Taxing dividends in the hands of the shareholder would both be fairer and more revenue-efficient than the
current arrangement
(b) This is not an equitable way of taxing people
(c) The government has to make the processing of claims and refunds fast and efficient, that is all
(d) The dividend distribution tax should be scrapped.
(e) to employees who receive the bulk of their income as salaries
6. Indexation benefits, meant mainly to compute capital gains, are fine. Simply put, there would be no tax on the
gains,_______________.

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(a) Such a method of taxation would not penalise portfolio churning across assets, essential for intelligent
savings
(b) say, from the sale of a house if the money is reinvested in shares and vice versa
(c) after indexation in the case of non-financial assets, which does not get redeployed in new assets
(d) That basis is to treat as current income liable to bear tax at the rate appropriate for the relevant income
bracket that part of any capital gain
(e) The basic principle — to spare the saving asset from tax and charge a tax only on the income from the asset
— is perfect and will make savings efficient
7. The government should adopt the so-called exempt-exempt-tax system wherein all savings will be exempt
from taxation at the time of contribution and accumulation,_____________.
(a) and taxed at maturity, if not ploughed into another asset
(b) the income-tax law allows investors who make capital gains to invest in NHAI and REC bonds
(c) The entire gain is exempt if the equivalent amount is invested in these bonds, subject to an upper limit of 50
lakh every financial year
(d) This principle is sound. The EET method is beneficial to investors, given that it does away with artificial
distortions
(e) and raises efficiency and equity in the tax system. It would also help the government garner more revenues
8. Private enterprises that fail to implement the reservation provision will forfeit all concessions under the state‘s
industrial policy.______________. When it comes to hiring decisions, the key consideration is getting the best-
qualified person.
(a) Rather than take real steps to improve employability and employment options, the state‘s Congress
government is taking the easy way out: blame the outsider as the source of the problem
(b) All companies prefer to hire locally, and if they are not, it is likely because of a skills gap
(c) Rather than issue a fiat, the government needs to consider ways to improve the employability and the
employment opportunity of the local populace
(d) The 100 per cent reservation policy will only succeed in driving out companies, resulting in a further
reduction in job opportunities
(e) The aim is to boost blue-collar employment among sons of the soil
9. Tax collections by the Centre and the states combined stand at something like 16.5 per cent of GDP. Even if
this were to double,_____________, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
(a) the bulk should come from direct taxes, rather than from indirect taxes that impinge on the rich and the
poor alike
(b) If GST is implemented properly, indirect taxes should offer up a bounty
(c) it would still be below the average for the rich country club
(d) even with further lowering of import duties, and also generate a broader database for direct taxes
(e) Without doubt, a large direct tax kitty is a function of generalised prosperity
10. When people are well-off enough to pay taxes on their income, ______________. Equally, when tax rates and
administration become less painful, tax collections would go up.
(a) what will encourage long-term tax compliance is intelligent and systematic mining of data to identify tax
evaders
(b) One simple way of incentivising tax compliance is to ensure that the cost of compliance and the cost of non-
compliance are roughly the same.
(c) The cost of compliance can be lowered by lowering tax rates and simplifying administration
(d) direct tax collections would swell
(e) The cost of compliance can be lowered by lowering tax rates and simplifying administration

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Directions for Questions 11 to 20: Correct any comma errors. Place a check mark in front of sentences that
are correct.
11. I took Angie the one with the freckles to the movie last night.
12. Jeremy, and I, have had our share of arguments.
13. You are I am sure, telling the truth.
14. She left Albany, New York on January 18 of that year.
15. I need sugar, butter, and eggs, from the grocery store.
16. Please Sasha, come home as soon as you can.
17. Although you may be right I cannot take your word for it.
18. We will grant you immunity if you decide to cooperate with us.
19. I am typing a letter and she is talking on the phone.
20. She finished her work, and then took a long lunch.
Directions for Questions 21 to 30: Correct any comma errors. Place a check mark in front of sentences that
are correct.
21. You asked for forgiveness, he granted it to you.
22. We ask; therefore, that you keep this matter confidential.
23. The order was requested six weeks ago, therefore I expected the shipment to arrive by now.
24. The American flag has three colors, namely, red, white, and blue.
25. Clothes are often made from synthetic material; for instance, rayon.
26. If you believe in magic, magical things will happen, but if you do not believe in magic, you will discover nothing
to be magical.
27. The orchestra, excluding the violin section; was not up to par.
28. I have been to San Francisco, California, Reno, Nevada, and Seattle, Washington.
29. I need a few items at the store; clothespins, a bottle opener, and napkins.
30. I answered the phone; but no one seemed to be on the other end of the line.
Directions for Questions 31 to 40: Identify the correct figure of speech in the following questions.
31. The Righteous shall flourish as the palm tree
(a) simile (b) metaphor (c) personification (d) None of these
32. Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale.
(a) Simile (b) Metaphor (c) Hyperbole (d) None of these
33. The camel is the ship of the desert
(a) Simile (b) Oxymoron (c) Metaphor (d) None of these
34. Variety is the spice of life
(a) Simile (b) Personification (c) Metaphor (d) None of these
35. Pride goeth forth on horse back, grand and gay.
(a) Oxymoron (b) Apostrophe (c) Personification (d) None of these
36. O solitude! Where are the charms that sages have seen in thy face?
(a) Personification (b) Hyperbole (c) Apostrophe (d) None of these
37. Death lays his icy hands on kings
(a) Epigram (b) Apostrophe (c) Personification (d) Not
38. Why, men, of the river were dry, I am able to fill it with tears.
(a) Apostrophe (b) Metaphor (c) Hyperbole (d) Not
39. Man propose, God disposes
(a) Antithesis (b) Hyperbole (c) Oxymoron (d) Not
40. Many are called, but few are chosen
(a) Antithesis (b) Apostrophe (c) Personification (d) Not

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Class Exercise 2
Directions for Questions 1 to 20: The last line of each para graph has been ommited. Read the paragraph
and select the alternative which would complete the paragraph most appropriately.
1. Particularly today, when so many difficult and complex problems face the human species, the development of
broad
(a) And powerful shoulders are necessary.
(b) Plans of action are not possible.
(c) Moral values are required.
(d) And powerful thinking is desperately needed.
2. In the European Community countries there has been talk of an energy tax to raise funds
(a) By burdening the rich who can afford higher taxes.
(b) To penalize heavy users of energy.
(c) By raising the price of energy-intensive implements.
(d) To search for alternative sources of energy.
3. ―Look before you leap‖ reflects an attitude expressed in such a saying as
(a) ‗Forewarned is forearmed.‘
(b) ‗A stitch in time saves nine.‘
(c) ‗No risk no gain.‘
(d) ‗Fools rush where the angels fear to tread.‘
4. This is the ancient kingdom of Sumeria and you are its venerated ruler. The fate of Sumeria‘ economy and
of your royal subjects
(a) Is written in their horoscopes.
(b) Is as unknown as the name of your kingdom.
(c) Is entirely in your hands.
(d) Is allocated according to their needs.
5. Furthermore, to be radical means to be ready and willing to break with the predominant cultural, political
and social beliefs and values in order to
(a) Investigate the essential realities that they conceal.
(b) Investigate the root cause of malaise in a society.
(c) Shape a new economic order.
(d) Re-construct the system in terms of new realities.
6. Entrepreneurs are never satisfied with the status quo, they are intent on shaping the future, rather than being
shaped by it. As one Chief Executive once said,
(a) ―The future is the sum total of actions in the present and past.‖
(b) ―If you are not alert, before you realize it the future is on you.‖
(c) ―I do not want our competitors making decisions for us.‖
(d) ―It is a sound business policy to anticipate change than being swamped by it.‖
7. Most people at their first consultation take a furtive look at the surgeon‘s hands in the hope of reassurance.
Prospective patients look for delicacy, sensitivity, steadiness, perhaps unblemished pallor. On this basis,
Henry Perowne loses a number of cases each year. Generally, he knows it‘s about to happen before the
patient does: the downward glance repeated, the prepared questions beginning to falter, the overemphatic
thanks during the retreat to the door.
(a) Other people do not communicate due to their poor observation.
(b) Other patients don‘t like what they see but are ignorant of their right to go elsewhere.
(c) But Perowne himself is not concerned.
(d) But others will take their place, he thought.
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(e) These hands are steady enough, but they are large.
8. Trade protectionism, disguised as concern for the climate, is raising its head. Citing competitive- ness
concerns, powerful industrialized countries are holding out threats of a levy on imports of energy- intensive
products from developing countries that refuse to accept their demands. The actual source of protectionist
sentiment in the OECD countries is, of course, their current lack luster economic performance, combined
with the challenges posed by the rapid economic rise of China and India - in that order.
(a) Climate change is evoked to bring trade protectionism through the back door.
(b) OECD countries are taking refuge in climate change issues to erect trade barriers against these two
countries.
(c) Climate change concerns have come as a convenient stick to beat the rising trade power of China and
India.
(d) Defenders of the global economic status quo are posing as climate change champions.
(e) Today‘s climate change champions are the perpetrators of global economic inequity.
9. Mattancherry is Indian Jewry‘s most famous settlement. It‘s pretty streets of pastel coloured houses,
connected by first-floor passages and home to the last twelve saree-and-sarong-wearing, white- skinned
Indian Jews are visited by thousands of tourists each year. Its synagogue, built in 1568, with a floor of blue-
and-white Chinese tiles, a carpet given by Haile Selassie and the frosty Yaheh selling tickets at the door,
stands as an image of religious tolerance.
(a) Mattancherry represents, therefore, the perfect picture of peaceful co-existence.
(b) India‘s Jews have almost never suffered discrimination, except for European colonizers and each other.
(c) Jews in India were always tolerant.
(d) Religious tolerance has always been only a façade and nothing more.
(e) The pretty pastel streets are, thus, very popular with the tourists.
10. Given the cultural and intellectual interconnections, the question of what is ‗Western‘ and what is ‗Eastern‘
(or ‗Indian‘) is often hard to decide, and the issue can be discussed only in more dialectical terms. The
diagnosis of a thought as ‗purely Western‘ or ‗purely Indian‘ can be very illusory.
(a) Thoughts are not the kind of things that can be easily categorized.
(b) Though ‗Occidentalism‘ and ‗orientalism‘ as dichotomous concepts have found many adherents.
(c) ‗East is East and West is West‘ has been a discredited notion for a long time now.
(d) Compartmentalizing thoughts is often desirable.
(e) The origin of a thought is not the kind of thing to which ‗purity‘ happens easily.
11. Characters are also part of deep structure. Characters tie events in a story together and provide a thread of
continuity and meaning. Stories can be about individuals, groups, projects, or whole organizations, so from
an organizational studies perspective, the focal actor(s) determine the level and unit of analysis used in a
study. Stories of mergers and acquisitions, for example, are commonplace. In these stories whole
organizations are personified as actors. But these macro- level stories usually are not told from the
perspective of the macro-level participants, because whole organizations cannot narrate their experiences in
the first person
(a) More generally, data concerning the identities and relationships of the characters in the story are
required, if one is to understand role structure and social networks in which that process is embedded.
(b) Personification of a whole organization abstracts away from the particular actors and from traditional
notions of level of analysis.
(c) The personification of whole organization is important because stories differ depending on who is
enacting various events.
(d) Every story is told from a particular point of view, with a particular narrative voice, which is not
regarded as part of the deep structure.

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(e) The personification of a whole organization is a textual device we use to make macro-level theories
more comprehensible.
12. Nevertheless, photographs still retain some of the magical allure that the earliest daguerreotypes inspired.
As objects, our photographs have changed; they have become physically flimsier as they have become more
technologically sophisticated. Daguerre produced pictures on copper plates; today many of our photographs
never become tangible things, but instead remain filed away on computers and cameras, part of the digital
ether that envelops the modern world. At the same time, our patience for the creation of images has also
eroded. Children today are used to being tracked from birth by digital cameras and video recorders and
they expect to see the results of their poses and performances instantly. The space between life as it is being
lived and life as it is being displayed shrinks to a mere second.
(a) Yet, despite these technical developments, photographs still remain powerful because they are
reminders of the people and things we care about.
(b) Images, after all, are surrogates carried into battle by a soldier or by a traveller on holiday.
(c) Photographs, be they digital or traditional, exist to remind us of the absent, the beloved, and the dead.
(d) In the new era of the digital image, the images also have a greater potential for fostering falsehood and
trickery, perpetuating fictions that seem so real we cannot tell the difference.
(d) Anyway, human nature being what it is, little time has passed after photography‘s invention became
means of living life through images.
13. Mma Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. These were its assets: a tiny
white van, two desks, two chairs, a telephone, and an old typewriter. Then there was a teapot, in which
Mma Ramotswe - the only private lady detective in Botswana - brewed redbush tea. And three mugs - one
for herself, one for her secretary, and one for the client. What else does a detective agency really need?
Detective agencies rely on human intuition and intelligence, both of which Mma Ramotswe had in abundance.
(a) But there was also the view, which again would appear on no inventory.
(b) No inventory would ever include those, of course.
(c) She had an intelligent secretary too.
(d) She was a good detective and a good woman.
(e) What she lacked in possessions was more than made up by a natural shrewdness.
14. Relations between the factory and the dealer are distant and usually strained as the factory tries to force cars
on the dealers to smooth out production. Relations between the dealer and the customer are equally
strained because dealers continuously adjust prices — make deals — to adjust demand with supply while
maximizing profits. This becomes a system marked by a lack of long-term commitment on either side,
which maximizes feelings of mistrust. In order to maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back
information — the dealer about the product and the consumer about his true desires.
(a) As a result, ‗deal making‘ becomes rampant, without concern for customer satisfaction.
(b) As a result, inefficiencies creep into the supply chain.
(c) As a result, everyone treats the other as an adversary, rather than as an ally.
(d) As a result, fundamental innovations are becoming scarce in the automobile industry.
(e) As a result, everyone loses in the long run.
15. We can usefully think of theoretical models as maps, which help us navigate unfamiliar territory. The most
accurate map that it is possible to construct would be of no practical use whatsoever, for it would be an
exact replica, on exactly the same scale, of the place where we were. Good maps pull out the most important
features and throw away a huge amount of much less valuable information. Of course, maps can be bad as
well as good — witness the attempts by medieval Europe to produce a map of the world. In the same
way, a bad theory, no matter how impressive it may seem in principle, does little or nothing to help us
understand a problem.
(a) But good theories, just like good maps, are invaluable, even if they are simplified.

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(b) But good theories, just like good maps, will never represent unfamiliar concepts in detail.
(c) But good theories, just like good maps, need to balance detail and feasibility of representation.
(d) But good theories, just like good maps, are accurate only at a certain level of abstraction.
(e) But good theories, just like good maps, are useful in the hands of a user who knows their limitations.
16. In the evolving world order, the comparative advantage of the United States lies in its military force.
Diplomacy and international law have always been regarded as annoying encumbrances, unless they can be
used to advantage against an enemy. Every active player in world affairs professes to seek only peace and to
prefer negotiation to violence and coercion.
(a) However, diplomacy has often been used as a mask by nations that intended to use force.
(b) However, when the veil is lifted, we commonly see that diplomacy is understood as a disguise for the rule
of force.
(c) However, history has shown that many of these nations do not practice what they profess.
(d) However, history tells us that those who intend to use violence profess peace.
(e) However, when unmasked, such nations reveal a penchant for the use of force.
17. I am sometimes attacked for imposing ‗rules‘. Nothing could be further from the truth. I hate rules. All I do is
report on how consumers react to different stimuli. I may say to a copywriter, ―Research shows that
commercials with celebrities are below average in persuading people to buy products. Are you sure you
want to use a celebrity?‖ Call that a rule? Or I may say to an art director, ―Research suggests that if you set
the copy in black type on a white background, more people will read it than if you set it in white type on a
black background.‖
(a) Guidance based on applied research can hardly qualify as ‗rules‘.
(b) Thus, all my so called ‗rules‘ are rooted in applied research.
(c) A suggestion perhaps, but scarcely a rule.
(d) Such principles are unavoidable if one wants to be systematic about consumer behavior.
(e) Fundamentally it is about consumer behavior — not about celebrities or type settings.
18. Age has a curvilinear relationship with the exploitation of opportunity. Initially, age will increase the likelihood
that a person will exploit an entrepreneurial opportunity because people gather much of the knowledge
necessary to exploit opportunities over the course of their lives, and because age provides credibility in
transmitting that information to others. However, as people become older, their willingness to bear risks
declines, their opportunity costs rise, and they become less receptive to new information.
(a) As a result, people transmit more information rather than experiment with new ideas as they reach an
advanced age.
(b) As a result, people are reluctant to experiment with new ideas as they reach an advanced age.
(c) As a result, only people with lower opportunity costs exploit opportunity when they reach an advanced
age.
(d) As a result, people become reluctant to exploit entrepreneurial opportunities when they reach an-
advanced age.
(e) As a result, people depend on credibility rather than on novelty as they reach an advanced age.
19. The audiences for crosswords and sudoku, understandably, overlap greatly, but there are differences, too. A
crossword attracts a more literary person, while sudoku appeals to a keenly logical mind. Some crossword
enthusiasts turn up their noses at sudoku because they feel it lacks depth. A good crossword requires
vocabulary, knowledge, and mental flexibility and sometimes even a sense of humor to complete. It touches
numerous areas of life and provides an ―Aha!‖ or two along the way.
(a) Sudoku, on the other hand, is just a logical exercise, each one similar to the last.
(b) Sudoku, incidentally, is growing faster in popularity than crosswords, even among the literati.
(c) Sudoku, on the other hand, can be attempted and enjoyed even by children.
(d) Sudoku, however, is not exciting in any sense of the term.

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20. Most firms consider expert individuals to be too elitist, temperamental, egocentric, and difficult to work with.
Force such people to collaborate on a high-stakes project and they just might come to fisticuffs. Even the
very notion of managing such a group seems unimaginable. So most organizations fall into default mode,
setting up project teams of people who get along nicely.
(a) The result, however, is disastrous
(b) The result is mediocrity.
(c) The result is creation of experts who then become elitist.
(d) Naturally, they drive innovations.

Directions for Questions 21 to 28: Make any necessary corrections to the following sentences to coordinate
the clauses logically and concisely.
21. Standardized test results can help measure the progress of individual students, and they are far less able to
measure the effectiveness of entire school systems.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
22. A consistent program of vigorous aerobic exercise maintains cardiovascular health, it also helps your brain to
work more effectively.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
23. If the Mets could just get some consistent relief pitching; they might be able to put a winning streak together.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
24. We never should have bought the plane tickets, and it would have been much easier to drive.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
25. The convention was not the success they had hoped it would be, their lead presenter came down with the flu;
the salesman who had to fill in had never given a presentation in front of an audience.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
26. Since 1998, the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the deadliest since World War II, it has
claimed over 3.3 million lives.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
27. Mrs. Donovan seems to inspire every one of her students to achieve; she inspires them despite having to
manage classes that sometimes number over 15 students.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
28. The lab took us twice as long to complete as any of our other labs; but it was also the most worthwhile.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions for Questions 29 to 33: Identify the correct figure of speech in the following questions.
21. The chug-a, chug-a, chug-a of the train echoed down the hill, while a cloud of smoke rose up to the blue
western sky.
(a) simile (b) metonymy (c) anaphora (d) onomatopoeia
22. You have a lot of work to do, so I'll lend you a hand.
(a) assonance (b) apostrophe (c) irony (d) synecdoche
23. We talked with each other about each other Though neither of us spoke — (Emily Dickinson)
(a) metonymy (b) paradox (c) synecdoche (d) personification
24. The earth laughs beneath my heavy feet At the blasphemy in my old jangly walk (Billy Corgan, "Thirty-three")
(a) euphemism (b) simile (c) antithesis (d) personification
25. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it
was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..."
(a) antithesis (b) litotes (c) simile (d) understatement

Class Test:
Directions for Questions 1 to 13: In each of the questions choose the correction option that completes the
given paragraph.
1. The ancient Egyptians believed so that when these objects were magically reanimated through the correct
rituals, they would be able to function effectively.
(a) That it was essential that things they portrayed must have every relevant feature shown as clearly as
possible
(b) It was essential for things they portray to have had every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible,
(c) It was essential that the things they portrayed had every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible.
(d) That when they portrayed things, it should have every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible
2. Archaeologists believe that the pieces of red – ware pottery excavated recently near Bhavnagar and shed
light on a hitherto dark 600-year period in the Harappan history of Gujarat.
(a) Estimated with a reasonable certainty as being about 3400 years old,
(b) Are estimated reasonably certain to be about 3400 years old,
(c) Estimated at about 3400 years old with reasonable certainty,
(d) Estimated with reasonable certainty to be about 3400 years old,
3. Many of us live one-eyed lives. We rely largely on the eye of the mind to form our images of reality. It is a
mechanical world based on fact and reason. (_). So today more and more of us are opening the other eye,
the eye of the heart, looking for realities to which the mind‘s eye is blind. This is a world warmed and
transformed by the power of love, a vision of community beyond the mind‘s capacity to see. Either eye
alone is not enough. We need ―whole sight‖, a vision of the world in which mind and heart unite.
(a) It had led to unprecedented scientific growth and material well being.
(b) In the nuclear age, our mind-made world has been found flawed and dangerous, even lethal,
(c) The question is irrelevant, whether or not they can be seen and reasoned.
(d) We have built our lives based on it because it seemed predictable and safe.
4. People arguing for a position have been known to cast the opposite in an unnecessarily feeble light.
(_ ). People who indulge in this fallacy may be fearful or ignorant of a strong counter argument. Detecting
this fallacy often depends on having already heard a better refutation, or having information with which to
construct one.

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(a) Casting the opposite as weaker than it really is, is a very effective strategy.
(b) This portrayal of a refutation as weaker than it really is, is a sure way of proving your point.
(c) Casting the opposite as weaker than it really is, is not a very effective strategy.
(d) This portrayal of refutation as weaker than it really is, is unwarranted.
5. The question of what rights animals should enjoy is a vexatious one. Hundreds of millions of animals are
put to death for human use each year. Contrariwise, it can be argued that slowing down scientific research
would retard discovery of antidotes to diseases such as cancer which kill humans and animals alike. ( ). What
if super intelligent beings from Alpha Centauri landed on earth and decided to use us for their experiments,
arguing that they could save far more of their and our lives by so doing?
(a) It will benefit both in the long run.
(b) Is the argument truly fair to animals?
(c) But the progress of human civilization cannot be made contingent on some hypothetical rights of animals.
(d) There is no question of equating human rights with those of animals.
6. A deliberation is a form of discussion in which two people begin on different sides of an issue.
(_ ) Then each decides, in the light of the other argument whether to adopt the other position, to change
his or her position somewhat, or to maintain the same position. Both sides realize that to modify one‘s
position is not to lose; the point is to get closer to the truth of the matter.
(a) Each person argues his or her position most sincerely.
(b) The prerequisite for deliberation to be productive is that persons involved must keep an open mind.
(c) The purpose is to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of both parties.
(d) The trick is to state your viewpoint from a position of strength.
7. When we call others dogmatic, what we really object to is.
(a) Their giving the dog a bad name
(b) Their holding dogmas that are different from our own
(c) The extremism that goes along with it
(d) The subversion of whatever they actually believe in concomitantly
8. I am an entertainer, I have to keep smiling because in my heart laughter and sorrow have an affinity.
(a) Even if I have tears in my eyes
(b) Even though I am depressed inside
(c) While entertaining people
(d) In the entertainment business
9. The stock markets. The state they are in right now speaks volumes about this fact.
(a) Is the barometer of public confidence
(b) Are the best indicators of public sentiment
(c) Are used to trade in expensive shares
(d) Are not used to taking stock of all markets
10. Political power is just as permanent as today's newspaper. Ten years down the line, the most powerful man
in any state today.
(a) Who cares
(b) Nobody will remember what was written in today's newspaper or
(c) Few will know, or care about
(d) When a lot of water will have passed under the bridge, who will care
11. _____the more they remain the same.
(a) People all over the world change
(b) The more people change
(c) The more they are different
(d) The less people change

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12. Although, it has been more than 50 years since Satyajit ray made Pather Panchali, refuse to go away from the
mind.
(a) The haunting images (b) Its haunting images
(c) Its haunted images (d) The haunt of its images.
13. Many people suggest and still other would like to convince people not to buy pirated cassettes.
(a) To bring down audiocassette prices to reduce the incidence of music piracy, others advocate strong legal
action against the offenders,
(b) Bringing down audio cassette prices to reduce the incidents of music piracy, others are advocating strong
legal action against offenders,
(c) Bringing down audiocassette prices to reduce the incidents of music piracy, others advocate strong legal
action against offenders,
(d) Audiocassette prices to be brought down to reduce incidents of music piracy, others advocate that
strong legal action must be taken against offenders,

Directions for Questions 14 to 23: Identify the correct figure of speech in the following questions.
14. He is not exactly sober.
(a) Irony (b) Paradox (c) Litotes (d) Oxymoron
15. The Jovial moon smiled benignly down at us.
(a) Metaphor (b) Personification (c) Onomatopoeia (d) Irony
16. His father passed away many years back.
(a) alliteration (b) innuendo (c) pun (d) euphemism
17. She was so embarrassed that she died a thousand deaths.
(a) paradox (b) hyperbole (c) simile (d) metaphor
18. Her gentleness was too harsh to bear.
(a) paradox (b) oxymoron (c) hyperbole (d) irony
19. There was a deafening silence as they sat gazing at each other on hearing the news.
(a) paradox (b) alliteration (c) oxymoron (d) hyperbole
20. Can‘t you do anything right?
(a) irony (b) rhetoric (c) innuendo (d) euphemism
21. He could hear the hissing of the snake in the grass.
(a) personification (b) onomatopoeia (c) metaphor (d) simile
22. Give us this day our daily bread.
(a) metonymy (b) simile (c) euphemism (d) synecdoche
23. Five friendly Frenchmen flew from France.
(a) hyperbole (b) alliteration (c) simile (d) metaphor

Test Your Vocabulary

Directions for Questions 1 to 10: Pick out the correct synonyms for each of the following words:
1. Timid
(a) Veteran (b) Fearful (c) Cowardly (d) Plucky
2. Decimate
(a) Disfigure (b) Destroy (c) Disseminate (d) Dissipate
3. Salacity
(a) Depression (b) Bliss (c) Recession (d) Indecency
4. Voracious
(a) Hungry (b) Wild (c) Quick (d) Angry

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5. Lapidary
(a) Engraver (b) Harmful (c) High-sounding (d) Abusive
6. Impasse
(a) Difficulty (b) Confrontation (c) Deadlock (d) Possible
7. Hallowed
(a) Historical (b) Ancient (c) Decayed (d) Sacred
8. Mollify
(a) Sympathise (b) Avenge (c) Flatter (d) Appease
9. Coy
(a) Talented (b) Shy (c) Beautiful (d) Sweet
10. Sumptuous
(a) Meagre (b) Irritable (c) Lavish (d) Destitute

Home Assignment:
Directions for Questions 1 to 5: A paragraph is given below from which one of the lines has been deleted. From
the given options, choose the one that completes the paragraph in the most appropriate way.

What is bad writing? One definition of bad writing is that it only entertains but does not edify. It does not raise
'important questions' regarding political or social ills but, instead, runs away from them.
1. Put simply, bad writing reinforces popular attitudes even if it's at the cost of harming a cultural fabric.
Bad writing's goals are self-serving……………………………………………….
(a) It aims to make money for its publisher and author and win popularity for its writer without caring two hoots
about the greater common good or making the reader think beyond the text.
(b) Good writing - especially fiction - on the other hand - is as man-made and culturally-constructed method of
enquiry used to analyse and judge one's views.
(c) However, no text - and, by extension, an author - is universally or eternally good or bad.
(d) Thus, if good writing is to prevail, good writers' must slug it out in the open with 'bad writers'.
2. Policy failures come in many shapes and sizes. But they are almost invariably accentuated by the choices that have
to be made in periods of financial shortage. Yesterday the coalition government found itself confronted by two of
them, one in policing policy and the other in higher education. The failures are radically different in many details.
But they have this in common: they are both serious failures, and they were both foreseeable. They could both
have been mitigated by clearer policymaking at an earlier stage……………………………………………….
(a) On the policing cuts, it is the opinion that Britain has more police officers than it needs.
(b) Instead each has been allowed to fester and become more difficult to solve politically.
(c) Downing Street must be thanking Prince Andrew for providing some distraction.
(d) Police numbers have increased without proper regard to social need.
3. It seems Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's top scientific adviser CNR Rao and his band of merry men - three
reputed scientists from top scientific institutions of the country - have been cherry picking some interesting
material from the work of other scientists and passing them off as their own. This is not the first time, people -
reputed (and talented) people that is - have been caught doing such things. Often people - the kind-hearted ones -
say imitation is actually the sincerest form of flattery. ……………………………………………….
(a) But the truth is, not many people find it amusing when they find that their work has been picked up by someone
else without giving them any credit.
(b) To cut a long and not-a-plagiarized-story short, the Indian scientists have apologized to Advanced Materials, a
prestigious journal, for "reproduction of text from an article" that appeared in another journal, Applied Physics
Letters, in 2010.

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(c) In other words, the scientists forgot to issue a 'footnote' that the four contentious lines were picked up from
another source.
(d) But the thing about plagiarism is that it is considered so if the offenders are caught.
4. ……………………………………………….and the proponents of market reforms have no plans for those who
do not have the resources and income to buy even two meals a day. The signals are clear that those who cannot
pay for their food have no right to survive. These poorer sections of society are reduced to mere victims,
beneficiaries, clients and recipients. In this dichotomous relationship, the state is seen as the 'dole giver' and the
people the 'dole receiver'. It must be recognized that irrespective of market-governed politics, people remain
bound to survival, livelihood and identity issues.
(a) The governments have ceased to govern.
(b) When the market is allowed to govern, the government becomes powerless to effect any radical social changes.
(c) Elections have failed to make democracy distributive and justice oriented.
(d) It is about market reforms and absence of plans for the poorest of the poor.
5. To succeed in today's crowded marketplace where most of the products and advertising look exactly the same, a
small business owner must stand out, shouting above the din with a message so clear and compelling that prospects
stop and take notice. It's a matter of business survival. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs quickly retreat to the
supposed security of sameness, soon to be lost in a sea of anonymity and a tidal wave of frustration. In effect, albeit
at a subconscious level, they are saying, "I don't want to be different".
In backroom offices and store fronts everywhere, salespeople are telling business owners they should do this or
that kind of ad because it worked so great for their competitor. The owners nod and sign on. It's already proven to
be a winner, right? WRONG…………………
(a) To make your advertising work, follow the principle if your competition is doing it, don't.
(b) Following your competitor is a sure recipe for disaster.
(c) Win the battle without a fight. (d) It will fill people with a sense of deja vu.

Explanatory Answers:
1. (a) The theme of the paragraph revolves around 'bad writing'. The author aims to define 'bad writing'.
Nothing in the text suggests that the author aims to compare good writing with bad writing. Options (b)
and (d) talk about 'good writing' which is a shift from the theme and hence can be eliminated. Option (a)
explains the 'self-serving' goals mentions in the last sentence of the paragraph and hence seems the best fit.
2. (b) Option (b) is the answer as it refers to both the policing and higher education policies.
3. (a) Option (a) is clearly correct as it continues with the contrast presented in the last line of the paragraph.
4. (b) A per the passage in starting portion it has been given that market oriented people do not have plans
for poor people or in other words no social agenda which is definitely the priority of any government. But
if power of government is transferred to others (market forces in this case) then there would not be any
radical social change.
From the other options, (c) discusses elections but there is nothing related to elections in the passage.
Option (d) is contradicting what is said in the statement following the blank space.
5. (b) Option (b) vehemently represents the sense of passage: additionally it contains in it a message that
author wants to convey through the passage. One more point supports this option is that it fits well with
the capitalized word (which is of course used to emphasize) WRONG. Hence strong message should
follow it.

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