English Vijeta Series

1
2
1
2
Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount
For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 2

3
Preface
Dear students,
English Language plays a very significant role in banking and other
competitive exams. This section is also a major deciding factor in your
success in every leg of your examination. The English section can be
tremendously scoring if one handles this section with all one’s dedication,
attention and care.
One of the key factors in attaining success in any field is the age old
concept of “practice makes a man perfect.” Although some people might
have an innate knack for a particular subject or skill, the truth is mastery
takes time, repetition and pushing oneself out of one’s comfort zone – there
is no shortcut!
Now, in the case of major banking and insurance exams, adequate and
appropriate practice materials aren't easily available. The contents you'll
rely on for the sake of practising must be exam-specific and relevant. So,
I've come up with ''Vijeta''(that translates to 'success finder') - a free-to-all
biweekly magazine for the English language that targets all the major
banking and insurance exams throughout the country.
Every question in this magazine has been framed with utmost care and
attention keeping in mind that millions of you will be highly benefited.
All the different patterns of questions from this section that appear in the
exams have been furnished in a very organised manner.
You'll only need to carry on practising consistently, as steady and

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

relentless improvement.

4
ABOUT NIMISHA BANSAL

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

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

5
She believes education should not be limited to the youth but to anyone
who shares the love of learning.
A Note to my champions
Dear students,
Getting a government job isn't a child's play nowadays. One must go

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

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

6
Second, target every exam as it's the easiest exam. It's not your
overconfidence. It's your self-assurance or confidence. Confidence is
believing in yourself, feeling comfortable in your true self, knowing you
have everything required to succeed.
By this positive mindset, you'll not be overwhelmed by the fear of losing.
Third, enjoy the journey. It's a healthy way to maintain balance between
doing and being, between producing results and going through the
required processes. Don't become too burdened with all your anxieties,
doubts and uncertainties.
There will be stress, doubts, fears but you will have to constantly remind
yourself that you can do it and you will do it.
Fourth, it is so important to realise the magnitude of introspection.
The ability to examine, explore and get intimate with your inner
consciousness and feelings allows you to take responsibility for your
growth.
By looking into and reviewing your own thoughts and the actions attached
to them, you get to know yourself - your strengths, your weaknesses.
Once you have understood these aspects, you can start working on them.
We are wired to move toward things that make us feel good and away
from things that make us feel uncomfortable. Our brains tag effort as bad
because it’s hard work.
But hard actions can have tremendous benefits — ones that may not be
visible for some time.
We can accomplish hard things by practising the habits of a growth
mindset.
Challenges and problems are important parts of life that give you
experiences; make you learn and help you become stronger. Problems
make us grow and shape us. The biggest problem people have is that
they hope for a life without problems.

7
Therefore, preparing yourself for the hardest challenges will certainly help
you achieve success more efficiently.
Finally, the temptation to give up is a common one, and nobody is

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

Nimisha Bansal

8
TOPPER’S TALK
Ishika Saini (SBI PO 2021-2022)
1. Congratulations on your success. I'm very happy for you and I’m
proud of you. What was the reaction of your parents and you when
you saw the result?
ISHIKA SAINI : Thank You so much mam! It was really unexpected,

there were tears of happiness in my eyes. When I saw the result I couldn't
believe it was real. The feeling cannot be expressed. My parents are
really proud of me. I cleared it in the 1st attempt. I had been preparing
since October, 2020 but I joined your perfection batch in May.
2. Tell me more about your goals, strategies and how did you
prepare?
ISHIKA SAINI : I mainly focused on the things I had command on like

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

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

9
A: I've been to many English classes on many platforms so far. But the
kind of ambience she creates in her classes has been unmatchable. Her
flagship batch - Perfection Batch has been enormously helpful for me and
thousands like me, who always used to think that English is the hardest
section. When I started attending her classes, I realised that solving only
the easy and simple questions would not yield any positive result. The
level of her questions in the Perfection Batch is so advanced that I
experienced a different dimension of learning. I acquired a great deal of
knowledge. My reading skill was improved to a great extent.
I'm also a regular attendee of her other free classes and editorial analysis
classes. These also have big contributions to my preparation.
Apart from her wonderful teaching ability, her warm gestures and constant
motivation are the things I'm forever indebted to.
4. Many students ask me about their doubts about the examinations,
like is reading enough for English?
ISHIKA SAINI : I don't think only reading can improve the language, you
have to solve questions to improve the same. Reading editorials does
help but only reading them isn't enough. I really enjoyed attending the
perfection batch and it helped me a lot and improved my weak links.
5. How was your interview? Were you nervous enough to face the
interviewers?
ISHIKA SAINI : I was nervous till I was outside the door waiting for my
turn. As soon as I got inside, I thought the interviewers were also human.
They won’t do anything if I answer wrong, so my nervousness flew away.
My interview was mostly situation based; it wasn't very much about
banking. I remember they asked me about the difference between SBI
and PNB. In which bank do you have your account? Most questions were
from my introduction and hobbies.
6. How did you manage your time? What was your timetable?

10
ISHIKA SAINI : My target was to study 7 - 8 hours a day. I used to give

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

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

11
INDEX
S.No. Chapter Name Page no

1 READING COMPREHENSION 12-33
2 CLOZE TEST 34 -84
3 PARAJUMBLE 85- 125

4 FILLERS 126- 175
5 IDIOM 176- 195
6 MISCELLANEOUS PATTERN 196-256

12
1. CHAPTER - READING COMPREHENSION
Short Passage 1
Direction(1-3): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
What could a bird or a butterfly, a road or a passer-by, say about the life of an octogenarian on the
cusp of momentous change? Perhaps they could iterate that timeless cliché that every end is a
beginning; perhaps, they could speak of the unexpected, often exhilarating insights that come from
looking into one’s life from the outside. In Tomb of Sand (2021), Daisy Rockwell’s English translation
of Geetanjali Shree’s Hindi novel Ret Samadhi (2018), which, on Friday, became the first book in any
Indian language to win the International Booker Prize, they speak of all these and more. The
polyphony of voices has been presented as they follow the journey of its protagonist Maiji.
It is somewhat emblematic that a novel that speaks of the fallacy of boundaries should win an award
that honours a work in translation. Tomb of Sand is the first novel in an Indian language to be even
longlisted for the International Booker Prize, which annually awards a contemporary writer of any
nationality for a work translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Often, in terms of Indian literature on a global platform, it is the work of a handful of Indian or
diasporic writers writing in English that gets to share the spotlight. Frequently macroscopic, they
highlight more often than not the exotica of subcontinental lives. Shree’s novel, rooted in the tradition
of Hindi writers such as Shrilal Shukla, Krishna Sobti and Vinod Kumar Shukla, and contemporised
in Rockwell’s robust linguistic retelling, captures the push and pull of the personal and the political in
a region forever in churn. At the awards ceremony on Friday morning, Frank Wynne, the Irish
translator and chair of the judges, spoke of the binaries that Shree’s novel represents, “youth and
age, male and female, family and nation” that make it “a kaleidoscopic whole” — “a novel of India”.
1. What can the fact that Tomb of Sand (2021), Daisy Rockwell’s English translation of
Geetanjali Shree’s Hindi novel Ret Samadhi (2018) became the first book in any Indian
language to win the International Booker Prize speak of?
a. This is not just a case for diversity, but also for the inherent connections that bind us.
b. The award is a befitting tribute to not just the theme of the novel, but also to the idea of
translation.
c. You only grow by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

13
2. How significant is Shree and Rockwell’s win in your opinion?
a. It is essential validation of the vitality of the novel in Indian languages that has, of late,
benefited from the ascendancy of translated works in contemporary literary hierarchy.
b. Such awards will do well to sustain this vision further afield, and to acknowledge the vibrancy
of cultures in different habitations of the globe.
c. The novel’s shortlisting by the International Booker Award committee gives one hope of
breaching familiar Euro-American literary, scholarly and market insularity.
3. What does Shree’s novel signify?
a. In times of divisiveness alongside varied identity axes in India, including languages, a novel
like this reminds us that pride in a language should not be just because it is language, a
transactional medium of communication.
b. In itself the fact that a language is spoken by many may not be its most significant aspect,
rather, what should be a matter of pride is both the quality and achievement of the literary
tradition which Shree’s novel helps assure and confirm.
c. It brings into larger purview the entire world of Hindi literature” and in particular, “Indian
literature as a whole.”
Short Passage 2
Richard Eric Susskind in his book, The Future of Law, wrote that in the coming years, lawyers and
their litigants would communicate through email. In Online Courts and the Future of Justice, he
contended that technology will bring drastic changes in the field of law and will transform the Court
system.
The Indian judiciary has increasingly started using technology and the change is reflected in the legal
profession in general as well. Some significant developments had taken place before the Covid –19
crisis in 2020, with the digitisation of judicial records and establishing of e-courts. Hence, it is
imperative that the use of digital technology be discussed to better utilise its potential, particularly in
terms of digitisation of court records, e-filing of cases and their virtual hearing, live streaming of court
proceedings.

14
In India, e-governance in the field of administration of justice began in the late 1990s, but it
accelerated after the enactment of the Information and Technology Act, 2000. As the 21st century
began, the focus was on _____________________________. In the year of 2006, e-courts were
launched as a part of the National e-Governance Plan (NEGP).
4. Which of the following phenomena will not happen if the use of digital technology has
become a norm in the Indian Judiciary system?
a. Huge amount of time is consumed in summoning records from the lower courts to the
appellate courts.
b. Cases are being adjourned simply because affidavits filed several years ago are not restored
and can't be traced.
c. There will be faster trials for the heinous crimes and also the justice will be served.
As the 21st century began, the focus was on _____________________________. In the year of
2006, e-courts were launched as a part of the National e-Governance Plan (NEGP).
5. Which of the following phrases can most appropriately fit in the blank in the above
statement?
a. digitising the court’s records

b. establishing e-courts across the country
c. using virtual hearings in a limited manner
6. Which of the following can be the potential technological hindrances in digitizing the Indian
Judiciary system fully?
Use your own understanding.
a. The lack of a well-equipped space where lawyers can conduct their cases.
b. Unnecessary political interventions and the unfairness of judges and lawyers.
c. Judges, court staff and lawyers being not well-versed with digital technology and its benefits.

15
Short Passage 3
Art for art’s sake — the idea that art needs no justification and need not serve a political, didactic or
economic purpose — is a principle that must be re-examined. There is the longstanding argument
that for the market of art and, indeed, artists to prosper, their works should stay aloof from
addressing difficult — political — questions.
The 2022 edition of the India Art Fair broke records with galleries selling works across price points —
the sign of a thriving and lucrative art scene. Hearteningly, the artworks were also representative of
diversity.
However, there is a clear correlation between the prevailing political climate and artistic licence. The
assault on the edifice of liberalism, manifest in predations on freedom of thought and on the charter
of equality, has led to the fostering of a culture of vigilantism in the arts, particularly in Asia. The
Indian art market — its worth is estimated to be between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 crore — remains
hot. Yet, it is a haven of conservatism.
7. There is the longstanding argument that for the market of art and, indeed, artists to
prosper, their works should stay aloof from addressing difficult — political — questions.
Which of the following statements will contradict the above statement?
a. Art in other words, should serve as a means of escaping reality to remain profitable.
b. There are young artists who boldly tackle, in a myriad media, questions related to politics,
gender and sexuality, caste, class, mental health, the climate crisis and so on and, yet,
manage to achieve commercial success.
c. Art’s commercial success is always concomitant with artistic freedom.
A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
8. Which of the following statements on the 2022 edition of the India Art Fair can be TRUE?
a. The artworks came from the interior corners of India, spanning Santiniketan in West Bengal
to Vadodara in Gujarat to international cities such as Sydney, Brasília, New York.
b. The artworks were bought by patrons across the world.
c. In the India Art Fair, art galleries and artists were pleasantly relieved at making great sales in
a pandemic climate.

16
9. Which of the following statements justify the statement - The assault on the edifice of
liberalism, manifest in predations on freedom of thought and on the charter of equality, has led to the
fostering of a culture of vigilantism in the arts, particularly in Asia - as expressed in the above
passage?
a. Recently, some groups targeted Vadodara’s Maharaja Sayajirao University’s Faculty of Fine
Arts alleging that a body of work had outraged religious sentiments of the majority
community.
b. In neighbouring Pakistan, the artist, Adeela Sulema, has suffered the ire of the State on
account of her artistic vision and sensibility.
c. News of artists being accused of blasphemy is not common in Nepal.
10. Which of the following statements can be the author's statement(s), according to his
overall tone?
a. In order to be lucrative the art must be benign.

b. Art must provoke thought and, yet, remain lucrative.
c. The pushback against conservatism is not warranted.
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, now more than three months old, will cause major, long-term shifts in
the global energy and commodity trade. Western sanctions on Russia and efforts of European
nations to diversify their energy supplies are already causing market distortions and high prices.
Those, in turn, have begun to trigger inflation and widespread financial distress. In India, the price
shock for commodities across the board, could derail the economy as it recovers from the effects of
Covid-19.
The conflict has already had a worldwide economic impact. Crude oil prices are at their highest level
since 2014; the price of LNG is at its highest ever, fertiliser and food are up and markets for several
other commodities such as nickel have been disrupted. Expensive commodities are already causing
distress in India’s neighbourhood, for example, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In Sri Lanka’s case,
economic turmoil due to high inflation, shortages of basic necessities and a default on foreign debt,
has caused a political crisis as well.

17
The warning signs were visible long before the conflict in Ukraine began. Insufficient investment in oil
and gas production in preceding years resulted in high prices, and shortages were being felt.
Even without the conflict, another factor could have triggered the price shock. Natural gas is used as
a feedstock for fertiliser.
What does the future hold? How bad the situation can become depends on multiple factors — the
duration of the Ukraine conflict, the terms on which it is settled, if it is, and the response of the US
and its allies, especially on the sanctions.
While these outcomes cannot be predicted, some trends are evident. First, irrespective of how the
conflict pans out, the European Union’s ties with Russia will continue to be strained.
Second, sanctions on Russia are unlikely to achieve the desired political outcome., if ever. Iran has
been under US sanctions since 1979, and the same with Venezuela for over a decade. In both
cases, sanctions have failed to achieve the desired political outcome — a change in regime or its
behaviour. As Russia is much better placed than either of those two countries to weather sanctions,
the restrictions are likely to remain for a long while.
Third, the high price of energy and the resulting inflation shows why much of the emerging world is
unwilling and unable to align with the West on the current sanctions. Russia is 11% of the global
landmass and among the world’s top five producers and exporters of oil, gas, fertiliser and other
critical commodities like nickel.
Larger emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil will disregard sanctions on their key
economic interests, particularly food, fertilisers and energy. Specifically for India, its dependence on
these essentials is unlikely to reduce meaningfully over the next 15-20 years.
11. What can be inferred from the fact that much of the emerging world is unwilling and
unable to align with the West on the current sanctions?
a. Russia is too big to be replaced as a supplier.

b. Attempts to buy oil, gas, fertiliser and other critical commodities from other countries will only
distort markets further.
c. In emerging economies, buying oil, gas, fertiliser and other critical commodities from other
countries can fan public anger and political unrest.
12. What does the fact that Natural gas is used as a feedstock for fertilizer indicate?
a. An energy shock is inevitably followed by a food price shock.


18
b. When people think about natural gas, they often think about the power sector, but that’s
actually not correct; it has other major applications.
c. Natural gas consumption will gradually be brought down.
13. According to the last passage, what will be the author's message to India?
a. In the immediate future, the country should collaborate with other similar economies to
ensure that Russia doesn’t get locked out of global commodity markets.
b. India should be quick to support the impositions of the sanctions on Russia so that these are
never withdrawn.
c. For the long term, India must work on insulating its supply chains from global political crises.
14. Which of the following probable events will support the fact that the European Union’s
ties with Russia will continue to be strained?
a. In the immediate term, the EU will probably try to source its raw materials — most critically oil
and natural gas, but also fertiliser, agricultural goods and metals — from non-Russian
sources.
b. There might be a closure of EU airspace to all Russian-owned and Russian-registered
aircraft.
c. There will probably be prohibitions on the provision of euro-denominated banknotes to
Russia.
Direction(15-17): In each of the questions given below, a passage has been given which are
either situational based or describes a scenario. Below each passage, a question has been
given which is framed to make you to infer something out of it. Mark out the correct inference
as your answer.
15. Former Reserve Bank governor Raghuram Rajan on Wednesday cautioned against import
substitution under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative of the government, saying the country has
gone down this route earlier but could not succeed.
“If the focus (under Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative) is on import substitution by erecting tariffs, which
we have done lot of in the last few years, then I think it is a direction we have tried before and it has
failed. I would caution against going in that direction,” Mr. Rajan said.

19
Which among the following can be said about Mr. Raghuram Rajan's character from the given
passage?
A. Autocratic
B. Synthetic
C. Articulate
D. Considerate
E. None of the above options
16. Over 84 lakh voters in West Bengal will decide the political fate of 283 candidates, when 35
constituencies go to polls in the eighth and final phase, amid a raging second wave of COVID-19.
Security measures have been heightened in view of the violence in the previous phases, an Election
Commission official said.
The poll panel has decided to deploy at least 641 companies of central forces, including 224 in
Birbhum district, in the eighth phase to ensure free and fair voting, he said.
Regarding the style of writing in the given passage above, the passage can be called _______
A. a chronicle
B. an account
C. an explication
D. an interpretation
17. British Prime Minister Theresa May has survived a trust vote on her Conservative party
stewardship. But there is little sign that the bitter infighting within the ruling party will abate. Nor is
there any assurance that Parliament will back her government’s controversial Brexit deal with the
European Union.
Which among the following can explain the road lying ahead for the British Prime Minister
Theresa May in the Brexit front?
A. opprobrious
B. reticent
C. tumultuous
D. creaseless

20
Direction(18-21): In the following question, a THEME followed by three passages is given.

Determine which passage(s) is/are based on the given theme.
18. Theme - Whims of Weather
a. Minimum temperatures in Mumbai, which dipped to below 20 degree Celsius barely a week
ago, soared to 26.5 degrees on Wednesday. As per IMD records, this was only the second
time in a decade that the city recorded such a high minimum temperature for November. The
last time the minimum temperature scaled this high for the month was in the year 2018, when
it touched 27.4 degrees.
b. Today, April 11, 2012, the weather forecasters are calling for widespread freezing tonight and
possibly sleet and snow here in northern Ohio. I don’t think either side has a scientific thing to
say of any practical value. They can use the most sophisticated computer modeling to
pretend to predict the weather, or study historical and geographical weather patterns in
minute detail, but no one can tell me where the next bolt of lightning will strike or when the
next frost will settle in.
c. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already come out with its long-range forecast
indicating that the seasonal rainfall quantum would be normal this year (between 96 and 104
per cent of the long-period average, LPA). Private forecaster Skymet Weather has said it
would be a ‘healthy monsoon’ at 103 per cent of the LPA.
A. Only a and b B. Only b and c C. Only a and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
19. Theme - Child labour issues and challenges
a. Children are employed in both formal and informal sectors. Among the occupations wherein
children are engaged in work are construction work, domestic work and small-scale
industries. Incidentally, agriculture is not only the oldest but also the most common child
occupation worldwide. Some of the industries that depend on child labor are bangle-making,
beedi-making, power looms and manufacturing processes.
b. The policy curbing child labor exists but lack of enforcement of labor restrictions perpetuates
child labor. This is manifested in variation in minimum age restriction in different types of
employment. The International Labor Office reports that children work the longest hours and
are the worst paid of all laborers.
c. Child labor continues to be a great concern in many parts of the world. In 2008, some 60% of
the 215 million boys and girls were estimated to be child laborers worldwide. Major
engagement was in agriculture sector, followed by fisheries, aquaculture, livestock and
forestry. In addition to work that interferes with schooling and is harmful to personal
development, many of these children work in hazardous occupations or activities that are
harmful.

21
20. Theme - Corporate Philanthropy
a. In the United Kingdom alone, leading publicly traded companies made donations to nonprofit
organizations in 2003 and 2004 that were valued at more than $1.6 billion and that equaled
close to 1% of the companies’ pre-tax profits.
b. Fannie Mae, a private mortgage company that works with the U.S. government to facilitate
home loans, and the Procter & Gamble Co., were ranked first and second inBusiness Ethics’
100 Best Corporate Citizens list in 2004. They engage in a variety of charitable activities,
such as volunteer initiatives, community service and educational or cultural projects.
c. Academics and practitioners argue that companies can and should strategically use their
charitable activities to create win-win opportunities for themselves and for the beneficiaries of
their benevolence. A similar idea is reflected in a joint statement that CEOs from renowned
companies such as Accenture, McDonald’s Corp., Deutsche Bank AG, Siemens AG and
Renault S.A. signed in January 2003 at the World Economic Forum. These corporate leaders
acknowledged that social issues are crucial elements of their businesses and that taking
active responsibility for such issues in a sound way is both economically and ethically crucial.
21. Theme - Behavior Altering Drugs
a. He had diabetes, and he had signed up for a study to see if taking a “statin” – a kind of
cholesterol-lowering drug – might help. So far, so normal. But soon after he began the
treatment, his wife began to notice a sinister transformation. A previously reasonable man, he
became explosively angry and – out of nowhere – developed a tendency for road rage.
During one memorable episode, he warned his family to keep away, lest he put them in
hospital.
b. The world is in the midst of a crisis of over-medication, with the US alone buying up 49,000
tonnes of paracetamol every year – equivalent to about 298 paracetamol tablets per person –
and the average American consuming $1,200 worth of prescription medications over the
same period. And as the global population ages, our drug-lust is set to spiral even further out
of control; in the UK, one in 10 people over the age of 65 already takes eight medications
every week.
c. In some cases the effects of psychoactive drugs mimic other naturally occurring states of
consciousness. For instance, sleeping pills are prescribed to create drowsiness, and
benzodiazepines are prescribed to create a state of relaxation. In other cases psychoactive
drugs are taken for recreational purposes with the goal of creating states of consciousness
that are pleasurable or that help us escape our normal consciousness.

22
Direction(22-26): The medium-size passage below has QUESTIONS OF DIFFERENT

PATTERNS. Detailed instructions are given below. Answer those questions by marking the
correct options.
India is feeling the heat in ways other than the rising prices. The ongoing heatwave, in which
temperatures have shot above 45 degree Celsius in many parts of northwest and central India,
highlights the rising climate risks and their attendant costs. Heatwaves, beginning earlier than in the
past, are part of a changing climate whose defining features, in addition to the gradual rise in
temperature, are an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The human and
economic costs of extreme heat conditions often go untraced and uncounted. Summed across the
population and over time however, the costs are significant. So are the macroeconomic
consequences. The current heatwave illustrates some of these.
The most obvious is agriculture where the government has just banned wheat exports, the latest and
sharpest in a series of responses to the shortfall caused by the sudden rise in temperature in mid-
March, a critical time for crop maturity. Expected yield losses are about 15-20%, production is
estimated to be 6% less than what was initially projected (111.32 million tonnes), with some reports
stating that the internal assessment is less (98 mt) and that the struggling public procurement could
be half the original target. Price pressures are never far behind output deficits and, predictably,
wheat prices rose almost 10% year-on-year against 8.4% food inflation in April from 7.7% in March;
wheat flour or atta prices have risen too.
Altogether, the supply-demand developments triggered by the unusual heat impact aggregate output
and consumption. The macroeconomic consequences are significant because
____________________________________.
Other costs are less obvious but not insignificant. For instance, adaptation pushes up demand for
cooling and, hence, electricity. But that is a mixed blessing. Sale of air-conditioners have risen. But
there is an exponential increase in power demand in this instance.
Besides premature deaths, extreme heat exposure reduces productivity by lowering capacity for
outdoor work and the loss of working hours as workers in heat-exposed occupations and workplaces
without cooling/air-conditioning cope by not stepping out during peak heat hours.
These are a few costs, but these not exhaustive by any means. But noting these underlines the fact
that such costs and losses are worryingly not one-off.

23
As the present heat conditions bear out, the macroeconomic consequences, ranging from inflation,
income-consumption effects, disruptions and prospective uncertainties, are significant enough to
deter investments, especially in susceptible sectors.
22. What can be the possible outcomes of the downturn in wheat production as stated in the
SECOND PARAGRAPH of the passage, apart from the rise in the price of wheat flour?
a. Wheat proportions in the food subsidy scheme stand diluted.

b. Wheat allocations to some states under the food security law have been cut.
c. Farmers mostly sell wheat from April to mid-May, although government wheat purchase time
has extended further; also, the purchase of wheat by governments and state-owned
enterprises of goods, services and works has dipped.
Altogether, the supply-demand developments triggered by the unusual heat impact aggregate output
and consumption. The macroeconomic consequences are significant because
____________________________________.
23. Which of the following PHRASES can most appropriately fit in the blank in the above
portion?
a. a large fraction of Indian labour is farm-based.

b. a large fraction of Indian labour is low-earning, with a high marginal propensity to consume.
c. the economic behaviors and decisions of individuals at a consumer level are the
determinants of the country's economy.
24. Why does the author call adaptation pushing up demand for cooling and, hence,
electricity a mixed blessing? What are the probable disadvantages he wants to refer to?
a. Because the rise in power demand has aggravated an existing coal deficit.
b. Because the exponential increase in power demand has elicited emergency measures from
the government to restart imported coal-based power plants by importing expensive coal.
c. Because there is a sharp decline in electricity generation from different fuel sources.

24
Besides premature deaths, extreme heat exposure reduces productivity by lowering capacity for
outdoor work and the loss of working hours as workers in heat-exposed occupations and workplaces
without cooling/air-conditioning cope by not stepping out during peak heat hours.
25. Which of the following IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS are correct according to the above
paragraph?
a. Extreme heat exposure is taking the edge of productivity.

b. Extreme heat exposure has brought productiveness to rest.
c. People are buying the farm untimely due to extreme heat exposure.
These are a few costs, but these not exhaustive by any means. But noting these underlines the fact
that such costs and losses are worryingly not one-off.
26. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the above portion of the passage?
a. The costs and losses due to extreme heat waves are recurrent.
b. The costs and losses due to extreme heat waves are mounting because of a significant rise
in India’s average annual temperature in the past two decades.
c. Losses due to raised temperatures are not associated with only one factor but also with
several different factors.
ANSWER
1.(Answer - A. Only a and b
a - Correct. The main book is in Hindi and the Booker prize it has got for its translation by a
foreign author.
So, this is not just a case for diversity, but also for the inherent connections that bind us.
Refer to - The polyphony of voices has been presented as they follow the journey of its protagonist
Maiji.

25
b - Correct.
It's absolutely true according to the above passage.
The story as well as its translation have their own respective values.)
Of course it is essential validation of the vitality of the novel in Indian languages.
validation - recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or
worthwhile.
vitality - the power giving continuance of life, present in all living things.
b - Correct.
This award will further encourage the vibrancy of cultures in different habitations of the
globe.
Because, if an Indian author can get this, others can too.
afield - to or at a distance.
c - Incorrect.
It's out of the context.
Refer to - Booker Prize, which annually awards a contemporary writer of any nationality for a
work translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Hence, Booker awards a contemporary writer of any nationality.)
3.(Answer - D. All a, b and c
Of course a novel like this reminds us that pride in a language should not be just because it
is language, a transactional medium of communication.
It's more than that.
The award is definitely indicative of the quality and achievement of the literary tradition which
Shree’s novel helps assure and confirm.
c - Correct. Absolutely. It brings into larger purview the entire world of Hindi literature” and in
particular, “Indian literature as a whole.”
purview - the scope of the influence or concerns of something.)


26
Refer to - Hence, it is imperative that the use of digital technology be discussed to better utilise its
potential, particularly in terms of digitisation of court records, e-filing of cases and their virtual
hearing, live streaming of court proceedings.
a - Correct. If digitization is there, it will take much less time for the lower courts to transmit
the records as and when called for.
b - Correct. Digitisation of court records will prevent it.
c - Incorrect. It has no relation to the digitization of the Indian Judiciary system.)
All these signify the fact that e-governance accelerated after the enactment of the Information
and Technology Act, 2000.)
6.(Answer - B. Only a and c
Only these two hindrances are directly related to the technological hindrances.
hindrance - barrier.
b - Incorrect. It's also a hindrance but it has no relation to the digitization of the courts.
It's not a technological hindrance.)
7.(Answer - B. Only b
This statement is directly contradicting the given statement.
The given statement says that in order to be successful, the artist must maintain distance
from attending difficult and political topics.
But, b says that there are young artists who boldly tackle, in a myriad media, questions
related to politics, gender and sexuality, caste, class, mental health, the climate crisis and so
on and, yet, manage to achieve commercial success.
Topics like politics, gender and sexuality, caste, class, mental health, the climate crisis are
political and difficult topics.
a - Incorrect. It's not contradicting, it's actually supporting the given statement.
c - Incorrect. It's out of the context.)


27
a and b - Correct.
Refer to - Hearteningly, the artworks were also representative of diversity.
These options justify the fact that the artworks were also representative of diversity.
c - Correct.
Refer to - The 2022 edition of the India Art Fair broke records with galleries selling works across
price points — the sign of a thriving and lucrative art scene.)
a and b are clear examples of the mentioned fact in the question.

ire - anger.
However, c is clearly contradicting.
News of artists being accused of blasphemy is not common in Nepal.

Hence, in Nepal there is artistic freedom to some extent.)
The author is strictly against the conservatism and he is also against the fact that in order to
be lucrative the art must be benign.
lucrative - attractive.
benign - harmless.
conservatism - commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or innovation.
Hence, a is absolutely incorrect
c - Incorrect. It's absolutely contradictory.
b - Correct. The author strongly supports this.)
Refer to - Third, the high price of energy and the resulting inflation shows why much of the
emerging world is unwilling and unable to align with the West on the current sanctions.

28
Also, Russia is 11% of the global landmass and among the world’s top five producers and
exporters of oil, gas, fertiliser and other critical commodities like nickel.
That means, Russia is too big to be replaced as a supplier.
b and c are related.
Attempts to buy oil, gas, fertiliser and other critical commodities from other countries will
only distort markets further, because the price will be sky-high. And if the prices become
exorbitant there will public anger and unrest.)
Refer to - Even without the conflict, another factor could have triggered the price shock.
Natural gas is used as a feedstock for fertiliser.
That means, an energy shock is inevitably followed by a food price shock.
Because natural gas is already costly. Now, if it's used as feedstock for fertilizer, then the
produce will also be costly.
Hence, a is correct.
b - Correct.
When people think about natural gas, they often think about the power sector, but that’s
actually not correct; it has other major applications - like - in fertilizer production.
c - Incorrect. It's a false interpretation. No sufficient data to back this.)
Refer to - Larger emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil will disregard sanctions
on their key economic interests, particularly food, fertilisers and energy. Specifically for India,
its dependence on these essentials is unlikely to reduce meaningfully over the next 15-20
years.
As India is dependent on food, fertilisers and energy, India should never support those
impositions of sanctions on Russia.
The author hasn't supported the plan to isolate Russia in any way. He understands Russia’s
importance.

29
Insulating India's supply chains from global political crises means India should always be in
good touch with Russia.
Hence, a and c are correct.
b - Incorrect. It's contradictory to the author's tone.)
The European Union’s ties with Russia will continue to be strained.

That means there will be prohibitions, sanctions, restrictions.
Hence, all three probable events ar correct.)
15.(Answer - D. Considerate
Considerate - showing concerns; thoughtful.
Autocratic - dominating.
Synthetic - artificial.
Articulate - having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.

(this can't be said just by reading this passage.)
16.(Answer - B. an account
The author here is just reporting the Election event in West Bengal.
an account - a report or description of an event or experience.
chronicle - a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.
explication - the process of analysing and developing an idea or principle in detail.)
17.(Answer - C. tumultuous
tumultuous - disorderly and troubled.
It is clear from the above passage that the British Prime Minister is going to have a very hard time
ahead regarding the implementation of the Brexit deal in the country. It is not even certain if her own

30
party will support her regarding this bill. It can thus be said that the road ahead for the British PM is
tumultuous; to say the least, in order to make sure that the Brexit vote goes in her favour at the end.
opprobrious - expressing scorn or criticism.

reticent - restrained.
ceaseless - constant and unending.
Remaining words don't make sense.)
whims of weather means - the very unpredictable nature of weather.
whim - a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained.
Statements a and b are talking about that uncertainty of weather.
Refer to - this was only the second time in a decade that the city recorded such a high minimum
temperature for November.
That means, this is not so common.
Refer to - but no one can tell me where the next bolt of lightning will strike or when the next frost will
settle in.
That means, weather is unpredictable.
c - Incorrect. It's talking about a normal monsoon.)
19.(Answer - B. Only b and c
Statements b and c explain the issues and challenges of child labour.
Refer to - The policy curbing child labor exists but lack of enforcement of labor restrictions
perpetuates child labor.
This is surely an issue.
Statement c is also explaining the challenges.
Statement a - Incorrect.
It's talking about different forms of child labour.)

31
corporate philanthropy - corporate philanthropy refers to the investments and activities a company
voluntarily undertakes to responsibly manage and account for its impact on society.
philanthropy - the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous
donation of money to good causes.
All three statements are talking about the same theme.
Key phrases - leading publicly traded companies made donations to nonprofit organizations
They engage in a variety of charitable activities, such as volunteer initiatives, community service and
educational or cultural projects.
These corporate leaders acknowledged that social issues are crucial elements of their businesses
and that taking active responsibility for such issues in a sound way is both economically and ethically
crucial.)
21.(Answer - C. Only a and c
Statements a and c are talking about the category of drugs that alters human behavior.
The key phrases - A previously reasonable man, he became explosively angry and – out of
nowhere – developed a tendency for road rage.
In some cases the effects of psychoactive drugs mimic other naturally occurring states of
consciousness.
In other cases psychoactive drugs are taken for recreational purposes with the goal of creating
states of consciousness that are pleasurable or that help us escape our normal consciousness.
That means, this type of drugs has huge behavior altering ability.
b - Incorrect.
It's talking about drug overuse and drug dependence.)
If the supply is low, proportions in the food subsidy scheme will stand diluted.
diluted - weakened.
Also, allocations to some states under the food security law will be cut.
Hence, a and b are TRUE.

32
c - TRUE.
Refer to - the struggling public procurement could be half the original target.
public procurement - the purchase by governments and state-owned enterprises of goods, services
and works.
If the supply is low, the purchase of wheat by governments and state-owned enterprises of
goods, services and works will be dipped.
Also, government wheat purchase time will extended further.)
You have to know what macroeconomics means.
macroeconomics - Macroeconomics is a branch of economics dealing with performance, structure,

behavior, and decision-making of an economy as a whole.
Hence, options a and b are correct.
marginal propensity to consume - the proportion of an aggregate raise in pay that a consumer
spends on the consumption of goods and services, as opposed to saving it.
c - Incorrect.
It's talking about microeconomics.
Difference b/w microeconomics and macroeconomics:
Microeconomics is the study of economics at an individual, consumer, group, or company level.

Whereas, macroeconomics is the study of a national economy as a whole.)
24. (Answer - A. Only a and b
adaptation pushing up demand means - to cope with the heat people are relying on air-
conditioners.
Hence, there is an increase in power demand.
Now, it's a mixed blessing according to the author.
So, the options must show the disadvantages.
Therefore, only a and b are perfectly right.
c - Incorrect. This is irrelevant.

This can't be the disadvantage of the increase in power demand.)

33
bring to rest - to lessen or stop.

take the edge of - reduce the intensity of.
buy the farm - to die.

untimely - prematurely.)
Refer to - But noting these underlines the fact that such costs and losses are worryingly not one-
off.
That means, the losses are repetitive or recurrent.
one-off - happening only once.
Also that means, the costs and losses due to extreme heat waves are mounting because of a
significant rise in India’s average annual temperature in the past two decades.
c - Incorrect. This is out of context.)

34
2. CHAPTER - CLOZE TEST
Directions(1-10): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of
which is indicated by a letter. Find the suitable word from the options given against each
letter and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningful.
If you’re a maximiser, you’re likely to weigh choices carefully to _____M____ which is the best one.
This can, of course, lead to a great ____N____ – when maximisers make decisions, they're likely
very informed. On ____O____, their decisions may look like the most logical or efficient, since
they've spent so much time _____P_____ possibilities and potential results.
But there are also _____Q_____. These are people who "have trouble making decisions because
they're trying to get it perfectly right", says Stephanie Preston, professor of psychology at the
University of Michigan. "They want to _____R_____ the outcome, so they lose a lot of time in the
process."
For example, say you're picking out a new television. If you're a maximiser, you might take a very
long time assessing five different models, trying to decide which one will maximise your
_____S_____. Do you get the one with the biggest screen, or save by choosing the cheapest?
Going back and forth in your head over which one is the ‘correct’ one can lead to decision paralysis,
leaving the person feeling like they still don't have enough ______T______ to make the best choice,
and maybe never will.
Once you finally decide, however, the maximiser mentality can also trigger decision _____U_____.
"The process of deliberating and choosing one option after seriously considering others is not only
very time-consuming, but also associated with post-decision regret and _____V______ thinking,"
says Sally Maitlis, professor of organisational behaviour and leadership at Oxford University's Saïd
Business School. "How would it have been to have chosen the other thing?"
If you’re a maximiser, you’re likely to weigh choices carefully to _____M____ which is the best one.
1. M
a. assess
b. weigh up
c. gauge

35
This can, of course, lead to a great ____N____ – when maximisers make decisions, they're likely
very informed.
2. N
a. end result
b. upshot
c. rationale
On ____O____, their decisions may look like the most logical or efficient, since they've spent so
much time _____P_____ possibilities and potential results.
3. O
a. paper
b. record
c. print
On ____O____, their decisions may look like the most logical or efficient, since they've spent so
much time _____P_____ possibilities and potential results.
4. P
a. deliberating
b. thinking about
c. contemplating
But there are also _____Q_____. These are people who "have trouble making decisions because
they're trying to get it perfectly right", says Stephanie Preston, professor of psychology at the
University of Michigan.
5. Q
a. drawbacks
b. edges
c. snags

36
"They want to _____R_____ the outcome, so they lose a lot of time in the process."
6. R
a. downplay
b. maximize
c. denigrate
A. Only a B. Only a and c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
For example, say you're picking out a new television. If you're a maximiser, you might take a very
long time assessing five different models, trying to decide which one will maximise your
_____S_____.
7. S
a. advantageousness
b. satisfaction
c. convenience
Do you get the one with the biggest screen, or save by choosing the cheapest? Going back and forth
in your head over which one is the ‘correct’ one can lead to decision paralysis, leaving the person
feeling like they still don't have enough ______T______ to make the best choice, and maybe never
will.
8. T
a. information
b. particulars
c. data
Once you finally decide, however, the maximiser mentality can also trigger decision _____U_____.
9. U
a. rue
b. regret
c. gratification

37
"The process of deliberating and choosing one option after seriously considering others is not only
very time-consuming, but also associated with post-decision regret and _____V______ thinking,"
says Sally Maitlis, professor of organisational behaviour and leadership at Oxford University's Saïd
Business School. "How would it have been to have chosen the other thing?"
10. V
a. counterfactual
b. categoric
c. contrary to fact
In the late 1980s, the aptly named psychologist James Reason wanted to understand the
_____M_____ thinking behind road accidents. He took to the streets and supermarket car parks
around Manchester, UK, and asked a total of 520 drivers to ____N____ the number of times they’d
committed certain offences. Did they regularly fail to ____O____ their rear-view mirror, for instance?
Or had they entered the wrong lane when _____P_____ a junction? Beside the list of errors and
_____Q_____, the participants were also asked to estimate how their driving _____R_____
compared to others’ – whether it was better or worse than average.
Given the sheer amount of time many people spend behind the wheel, you’d hope that most of the
drivers would have at least some awareness of their own abilities. Yet Reason found that this
couldn’t have been further from the truth. Of the 520 drivers, just five _____S_____ that they were
worse than average – fewer than 1%. The rest – even the truly _____T_____ drivers who were
constantly making errors – considered themselves to be at least as good as the next person, and
many thought they were a lot better. It was, essentially, a mass _____U_____ that _____V_____
them completely blind to their own failings.
In the late 1980s, the aptly named psychologist James Reason wanted to understand the
_____M_____ thinking behind road accidents.
11. M
a. flawed

38
b. unsound
c. weighty
He took to the streets and supermarket car parks around Manchester, UK, and asked a total of 520
drivers to ____N____ the number of times they’d committed certain offences.
12. N
a. estimate
b. evaluate
c. appraise
Did they regularly fail to ____O____ their rear-view mirror, for instance? Or had they entered the
wrong lane when _____P_____ a junction?
13. O
a. check
b. look over
c. brush aside
Did they regularly fail to ____O____ their rear-view mirror, for instance? Or had they entered the
wrong lane when _____P_____ a junction?
14. P
a. approaching
b. catching up on
c. pulling out of
Beside the list of errors and _____Q_____, the participants were also asked to estimate how their
driving _____R_____ compared to others’ – whether it was better or worse than average.

39
15. Q
a. homages
b. violations
c. breaches
Beside the list of errors and _____Q_____, the participants were also asked to estimate how their
driving _____R_____ compared to others’ – whether it was better or worse than average.
16. R
a. potentiality
b. aptness
c. indisposition
Yet Reason found that this couldn’t have been further from the truth. Of the 520 drivers, just five
_____S_____ that they were worse than average – fewer than 1%.
17. S
a. considered
b. deemed
c. adjudged
The rest – even the truly _____T_____ drivers who were constantly making errors – considered
themselves to be at least as good as the next person, and many thought they were a lot better.
18. T
a. abysmal
b. dazzling
c. dreadful
It was, essentially, a mass _____U_____ that _____V_____ them completely blind to their own
failings.

40
19. U
a. delusion
b. misapprehension
c. misunderstanding
It was, essentially, a mass _____U_____ that _____V_____ them completely blind to their own
failings.
20. V
a. rendered
b. made
c. proffered
One afternoon in April 2018 I answered my rarely-used home telephone to a _____M_____ of

questions. On a crackly landline, a researcher from the University of Exeter, UK, _____N_____ a
standard interview to check my ____O____ for a clinical trial. She was part of a team seeking to test
the effectiveness of ketamine – an anaesthetic drug which is being repurposed as a new
antidepressant. It is the first pharmacological treatment for ______P_____ to have emerged in
decades. The Exeter scientists were hoping to find out if the drug, when combined with psychological
therapy, could prevent alcoholics from _____Q_____.
The questions were designed to establish if I was alcohol _____R_____, which wasn't a surprise, as
I'd applied to the trial to deal with problems I had with drinking. But there were two questions that left
me feeling raw and _____S_____.
"Have you ever thought of _____T_____ yourself or trying to take your own life?" asked the
researcher.
I struggled to work out why she was asking. Everyone has such thoughts sometimes, I had
assumed. I really couldn't understand the _____U_____. But I reluctantly answered "yes". Then
came two follow up questions: "How often did I think that?" and "Did I have plans for suicide?"

41
I had such thoughts earlier that day and on many days, I said, but without any plans. But as strange
and intrusive as this line of questioning felt, what I later ______V_____ about how my answers
would be interpreted was both puzzling and upsetting.
One afternoon in April 2018 I answered my rarely-used home telephone to a _____M_____ of

questions.
21. M
a. barrage
b. blast
c. cascade
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
On a crackly landline, a researcher from the University of Exeter, UK, _____N_____ a standard
interview to check my ____O____ for a clinical trial.
22. N
a. ran through
b. went over
c. went through
On a crackly landline, a researcher from the University of Exeter, UK, _____N_____ a standard
interview to check my ____O____ for a clinical trial.
23. O
a. suitability
b. suitableness
c. ineptness
It is the first pharmacological treatment for ______P_____ to have emerged in decades.
24. P
a. depression

42
b. elation
c. woe
The Exeter scientists were hoping to find out if the drug, when combined with psychological therapy,
could prevent alcoholics from _____Q_____.
25. Q
a. reverting
b. relapsing
c. regressing
The questions were designed to establish if I was alcohol _____R_____, which wasn't a surprise, as
I'd applied to the trial to deal with problems I had with drinking.
26. R
a. dependant
b. dependance
c. addict
But there were two questions that left me feeling raw and _____S_____.
27. S
a. outraged
b. infuriated
c. enraged
"Have you ever thought of _____T_____ yourself or trying to take your own life?" asked the
researcher.

43
28. T
a. revamping
b. wounding
c. defacing
I struggled to work out why she was asking. Everyone has such thoughts sometimes, I had
assumed. I really couldn't understand the _____U_____. But I reluctantly answered "yes". Then
came two follow up questions: "How often did I think that?" and "Did I have plans for suicide?"
29. U
a. significance
b. magnitude
c. pettiness
But as strange and intrusive as this line of questioning felt, what I later ______V_____ about how my
answers would be interpreted was both puzzling and upsetting.
30. V
a. discovered
b. doped out
c. realized
The current pandemic has revealed how much our healthcare services _____M_____ physical
human contact. Many surgeries have been _____N_____ to try to stop Covid-19 from spreading,
creating considerable physical, mental and economic ______O______ for patients, hospitals and
societies.

44
In response, robots have been _____P_____ where possible, conducting specialised surgeries that
allow surgeons to stay at a safe distance, and even helping with communicating to patients. This
trend – of machines _____Q_____ medicine – is one that experts expect to continue.
But Nadine Hachach-Haram had been thinking about problems in surgery long before Covid-19
came along. As a child in war-torn Lebanon, she _____R______ first-hand the _____S_____ effect
that inequality in surgical care could have.
Today, five billion people across the globe still ____T____ access to safe surgery. More people die
from this than from HIV, malaria and TB _____U_____.
In response, Hachach-Haram has created a technology that allows surgeons to _____V_____ scrub
into any operating theatre around the world, just by using a tablet or computer. It has already been
put to good use, helping a very special patient.
The current pandemic has revealed how much our healthcare services _____M_____ physical
human contact.
31. M
a. rely on
b. count on
c. figure on
Many surgeries have been _____N_____ to try to stop Covid-19 from spreading, creating
considerable physical, mental and economic ______O______ for patients, hospitals and societies.
32. N
a. vindicated
b. cancelled
c. called off
Many surgeries have been _____N_____ to try to stop Covid-19 from spreading, creating
considerable physical, mental and economic ______O______ for patients, hospitals and societies.
33. O

45
a. consequences
b. ramifications
c. denouements
In response, robots have been _____P_____ where possible, conducting specialised surgeries that
allow surgeons to stay at a safe distance, and even helping with communicating to patients.
34. P
a. deployed
b. concentrated
c. employed
This trend – of machines _____Q_____ medicine – is one that experts expect to continue.
35. Q
a. reshaping
b. remoulding
c. putting down
As a child in war-torn Lebanon, she _____R______ first-hand the _____S_____ effect that inequality
in surgical care could have.
36. R
a. witnessed
b. looked on at
c. discounted
As a child in war-torn Lebanon, she _____R______ first-hand the _____S_____ effect that inequality
in surgical care could have.

46
37. S
a. devastating
b. noxious
c. detrimental
38. T
a. lack
b. are in need of
c. possess
39. U
a. incorporated
b. combined
c. put together
In response, Hachach-Haram has created a technology that allows surgeons to _____V_____ scrub
into any operating theatre around the world, just by using a tablet or computer.
40. V
a. virtually
b. more or less
c. nearly
A. Only a B. Only b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

47
When my grandmother Carol Mitchell was _____M______ with Parkinson’s disease in 2010 at the
age of 72, she was _____N_____ a drug called carbidopa/levodopa. She swallowed the little oblong
pill four times a day – at 7am, 11am, 3pm and 7pm.
In the years that followed, her doctors prescribed her a steroid cream for skin _____O_____ and
drugs for depression, motion sickness, anxiety, acid reflux and early breast cancer. "I walked into her
bedroom and there were _____P_____ everywhere,” says Elizabeth Mitchell, Carol’s daughter and
my mother. "I was Googling each one to see what they were for.”
For Carol, who is now 82, taking all her drugs precisely when she’s meant to has been a
______Q______ goal. "I don’t want to take medications like that. It’s too much, I think,” she says.
"You can’t leave the house because you’ve got all these medications to take.” Inevitably, she would
find herself missing doses of her Parkinson’s drug – and when she did, her _____R_____ of tremors,
stiffness and difficulty with speaking and walking would return or ______S______. In the last four
years, that has led to four emergency department visits, two of which involved extended hospital
stays.
To make taking the essential Parkinson’s pill easier, Elizabeth suggested that her mum wean herself
off as many meds as she could with her doctor’s help, and today, Mitchell takes only the Parkinson’s
drug. "I feel much better being on less medicines,” she says. Elizabeth says that her mom is far more
_____T_____ to take her carbidopa/levodopa at the _____U_____ time now, helping to keep her out
of the hospital.
But for many other elderly patients who are on multiple medications, _____V_____ is not so easy.
41. M
a. diagnosed
b. pronounced
c. detected

48
42. N
a. proscribed
b. prescribed
c. suggested
In the years that followed, her doctors prescribed her a steroid cream for skin _____O_____ and
drugs for depression, motion sickness, anxiety, acid reflux and early breast cancer.
43. O
a. issues
b. complications
c. probs
"I walked into her bedroom and there were _____P_____ everywhere,” says Elizabeth Mitchell,
Carol’s daughter and my mother. "I was Googling each one to see what they were for.”
44. P
a. vials
b. phials
c. ampoules
For Carol, who is now 82, taking all her drugs precisely when she’s meant to has been a
______Q______ goal.
45. Q
a. chewy
b. tough
c. demanding

49
"I don’t want to take medications like that. It’s too much, I think,” she says. "You can’t leave the
house because you’ve got all these medications to take.” Inevitably, she would find herself missing
doses of her Parkinson’s drug – and when she did, her _____R_____ of tremors, stiffness and
difficulty with speaking and walking would return or ______S______.
46. R
a. symptoms
b. manifestations
c. prodromes
"I don’t want to take medications like that. It’s too much, I think,” she says. "You can’t leave the
house because you’ve got all these medications to take.” Inevitably, she would find herself missing
doses of her Parkinson’s drug – and when she did, her _____R_____ of tremors, stiffness and
difficulty with speaking and walking would return or ______S______.
47. S
a. ameliorate
b. aggravate
c. exacerbate
"I feel much better being on less medicines,” she says. Elizabeth says that her mom is far more
of the hospital.
48. T
a. far-fetched
b. likely
c. foreseeable

50
"I feel much better being on less medicines,” she says. Elizabeth says that her mom is far more
of the hospital.
49. U
a. correct
b. opportune
c. precise
But for many other elderly patients who are on multiple medications, _____V_____ is not so easy.
50. V
a. counting
b. weaning
c. reckoning
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis was caused by a perfect storm. On the policy side, there was an
_____M_____ level of foreign currency commercial borrowing by the government and a late-2019
tax policy change disconnected from the budget ______N_____. Separately, the Easter Sunday
bombings three years ago and Covid devastated the tourism industry. An IMF estimate puts the cost
of these two developments on tourism at about $10 billion. The _____O_____ was undoubtedly
Covid. But subsequent economic policy mistakes created a balance of payments crisis so
_____P_____ that financial support from China, India and Bangladesh was not enough.
Following credit rating downgrades in 2020, Sri Lanka lost ____Q_____ to foreign commercial
borrowing. The central bank reacted by trying to fix an exchange rate of 200-203 Sri Lankan rupee to
the US dollar, similar to what Nepal does with the Indian rupee. The next step was price controls.
The consequences were ______R______ and forex _____S_____. IMF is certain to ask Sri Lanka to
move away from an unsustainable exchange rate peg and restructure its tax policy to meet the
challenge of repaying government debt that last year was about 104% of GDP. Sri Lanka has fully

51
vaccinated over 65% of its population and tourist _____T_____ are rising. But economic normalcy is
_____U_____ on exchange rate, tax and expenditure reforms. There’s no easy _____V_____.
tax policy change disconnected from the budget ______N_____.
51. M
a. imprudent
b. injudicious
c. abstemious
tax policy change disconnected from the budget ______N_____.
52. N
a. expenditure
b. disbursement
c. restoration
The _____O_____ was undoubtedly Covid.
53. O
a. inflection point
b. turning point
c. intonation point

52
But subsequent economic policy mistakes created a balance of payments crisis so _____P_____
that financial support from China, India and Bangladesh was not enough.
54. P
a. grave
b. exigent
c. precarious
Following credit rating downgrades in 2020, Sri Lanka lost ____Q_____ to foreign commercial
borrowing.
55. Q
a. access
b. way in
c. cutback
The central bank reacted by trying to fix an exchange rate of 200-203 Sri Lankan rupee to the US
dollar, similar to what Nepal does with the Indian rupee. The next step was price controls. The
consequences were ______R______ and forex _____S_____.
56. R
a. profusion
b. shortages
c. scarcity
The central bank reacted by trying to fix an exchange rate of 200-203 Sri Lankan rupee to the US
dollar, similar to what Nepal does with the Indian rupee. The next step was price controls. The
consequences were ______R______ and forex _____S_____.
57. S
a. hoarding

53
b. laying away
c. stashing
Sri Lanka has fully vaccinated over 65% of its population and tourist _____T_____ are rising. But
economic normalcy is _____U_____ on exchange rate, tax and expenditure reforms. There’s no
easy _____V_____.
58. T
a. footfalls
b. strides
c. footmarks
easy _____V_____.
59. U
a. contingent
b. conditional
c. hingeing
easy _____V_____.
60. V
a. way out
b. exit
c. archway

54
This year’s monsoon needs to be located in the backdrop of three important developments. A
transient one is the _____M_____ of the Russia-Ukraine war as the two countries jointly account for
about 30% of global wheat exports. Therefore, India, which exported Rs 74,491 crore of cereals in
FY 21, will have an _____N_____ impact on the global market this year. Two other developments
are the _____O_____ annual mean land surface temperature and the water _____P_____ in
northwest India, which will have a long-term impact on Indian agriculture.
India’s _____Q_____ on most essential crops have improved over the last decade. Consequently,
even though the extent of agricultural land has _____R_____ marginally, both cereal and vegetable
output have increased. However, the worsening environmental stress ______S______ fairly large
changes in Indian agriculture. To begin with, there’s a need to find a _____T_____ solution to our
overflowing granaries. India’s buffer stock norm for foodgrains at the beginning of the financial year
is 21 million tonnes. The actual holding has been over two times the required level in the recent past.
GoI needs to work out effective ways to _____U_____ the excess as elevated global cereal prices
can ____V_____ domestic market prices through the trade channel.
This year’s monsoon needs to be located in the backdrop of three important developments. A
transient one is the _____M_____ of the Russia-Ukraine war as the two countries jointly account for
about 30% of global wheat exports.
61. M
a. fallout
b. side effect
c. ground
Therefore, India, which exported Rs 74,491 crore of cereals in FY 21, will have an _____N_____
impact on the global market this year.
62. N
a. outsized
b. enormous
c. extensive

55
Two other developments are the _____O_____ annual mean land surface temperature and the
water _____P_____ in northwest India, which will have a long-term impact on Indian agriculture.
63. O
a. escalating
b. intensifying
c. quashing
Two other developments are the _____O_____ annual mean land surface temperature and the
water _____P_____ in northwest India, which will have a long-term impact on Indian agriculture.
64. P
a. stress
b. trouble
c. composure
India’s _____Q_____ on most essential crops have improved over the last decade.
65. Q
a. yields
b. revenues
c. dividends
Consequently, even though the extent of agricultural land has _____R_____ marginally, both cereal
and vegetable output have increased.
66. R
a. fattened
b. shrunk
c. dwindled

56
However, the worsening environmental stress ______S______ fairly large changes in Indian
agriculture.
67. S
a. calls for
b. warrants
c. revokes
To begin with, there’s a need to find a _____T_____ solution to our overflowing granaries.
68. T
a. flimsy
b. hard-wearing
c. sturdy
69. U
a. offload
b. jettison
c. get rid of
70. V
a. influence
b. predispose
c. shape

57
Bulldozers had continued to ____M____ alleged encroachments in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri – scene of

rioting on Saturday – yesterday, forcing the Supreme Court to _____N_____ communicate its stay
order to North Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This is enormously _____O_____, even by recent
standards. Some authorities seem to have no _____P_____ using any law or agency for various
motives – here the subliminal messaging appeared to be payback to “rioters”. Only SC and high
court judges with their constitutional protections can ensure that political and permanent executives
apply laws wisely and humanely. Courts must step in to prevent this mindless _____Q______ of
bulldozers; the Constitution is getting bulldozed as well. Razing of homes and shops _____R_____
entire families, and even if there are family members who allegedly rioted or even if structures are
illegal, there’s due process – _____S_____ until proven guilty and adequate notice, respectively – to
be followed.
From its slums to posh areas, Delhi is overrun by encroachments, as are most Indian cities.
Bureaucratic ______T______ on illegal structures was therefore thoroughly unconvincing when
Jahangirpuri was singled out. And even if one were to look at it in terms of legality, the MCD Act has
clear provisions: Under Section 317 the Commissioner is supposed to issue notice to remove
projections (structures or fixtures) onto streets, Section 343 allows _____U_____ of buildings with a
minimum notice period of 5-15 days. Only Section 322 doesn’t require issuing notice, because it
involves removing temporary structures like stalls encroaching into public streets. There’s also an
_____V_____ tribunal under the Act to hear appeals against notices.

order to North Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
71. M
a. wipe out
b. raze
c. pull down

58

order to North Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
72. N
a. expeditiously
b. unhurriedly
c. rapidly
This is enormously _____O_____, even by recent standards.
73. O
a. troubling
b. perturbing
c. assuasive
Some authorities seem to have no _____P_____ using any law or agency for various motives – here
the subliminal messaging appeared to be payback to “rioters”.
74. P
a. qualms
b. misgivings
c. reservations
Courts must step in to prevent this mindless _____Q______ of bulldozers; the Constitution is getting
bulldozed as well.
75. Q
a. deployment
b. backdown
c. climb-down

59
Razing of homes and shops _____R_____ entire families, and even if there are family members who
allegedly rioted or even if structures are illegal, there’s due process – _____S_____ until proven
guilty and adequate notice, respectively – to be followed.
76. R
a. hurts
b. mortifies
c. obliges
Razing of homes and shops _____R_____ entire families, and even if there are family members who
allegedly rioted or even if structures are illegal, there’s due process – _____S_____ until proven
guilty and adequate notice, respectively – to be followed.
77. S
a. guiltless
b. blameless
c. culpable
From its slums to posh areas, Delhi is overrun by encroachments, as are most Indian cities.
Bureaucratic ______T______ on illegal structures was therefore thoroughly unconvincing when
Jahangirpuri was singled out.
78. T
a. hairsplitting
b. cavilling
c. quibbling
And even if one were to look at it in terms of legality, the MCD Act has clear provisions: Under
Section 317 the Commissioner is supposed to issue notice to remove projections (structures or
fixtures) onto streets, Section 343 allows _____U_____ of buildings with a minimum notice period of
5-15 days.

60
79. U
a. fabrication
b. demolition
c. levelling
There’s also an _____V_____ tribunal under the Act to hear appeals against notices.
80. V
a. appellate
b. appellant
c. appellation
Among the other states where a rise of infections has now been _____M_____ by the Centre,
Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh also did away with the _____N_____ for not wearing the
mask in public places at the beginning of this month. The trend in infections since then has
_____O_____ Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to bring back the mask mandates in select districts. But
both for people and enforcement agencies, this _____P____ mandate is again a recipe for
confusion. More than two years into the present pandemic, all governments should have internalized
the _____Q_____ of clear messaging.
The way in which the question of closing schools has once again come back to the table in NCR is
furthermore a _____R_____ of everything that is at ____S____ in the premature ditching of the first
and most _____T_____ line of defense against Covid-19. Thankfully the overall caseload continues
to be small and there are no _____U_____ signs on the hospitalization front either. By putting the
guard back up in a timely way, we can hopefully _____V_____ safe ground.
mask in public places at the beginning of this month.
81. M
a. flagged

61
b. pointed out
c. marked out
mask in public places at the beginning of this month.
82. N
a. penalty
b. punishment
c. sanction
The trend in infections since then has _____O_____ Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to bring back the
mask mandates in select districts.
83. O
a. knocked down
b. compelled
c. impelled
But both for people and enforcement agencies, this _____P____ mandate is again a recipe for
confusion.
84. P
a. patchy
b. fragmentary
c. comprehensive
More than two years into the present pandemic, all governments should have internalized the
_____Q_____ of clear messaging.

62
85. Q
a. significance
b. puniness
c. momentousness
and most _____T_____ line of defense against Covid-19.
86. R
a. reminder
b. nudge
c. prompt
87. S
a. stake
b. pole
c. risk
88. T
a. inexpensive
b. reduced
c. valuable

63
Thankfully the overall caseload continues to be small and there are no _____U_____ signs on the
hospitalization front either. By putting the guard back up in a timely way, we can hopefully
_____V_____ safe ground.
89. U
a. worrying
b. dense
c. concerning
Thankfully the overall caseload continues to be small and there are no _____U_____ signs on the
hospitalization front either. By putting the guard back up in a timely way, we can hopefully
_____V_____ safe ground.
90. V
a. mislay
b. regain
c. retrieve
For India, earlier attempts at negotiating with Pakistan’s civilian ______M______ were a
_____N_____ because of the dominant role played by the Pakistan army in guiding the course of the
country’s internal politics and external relations. Shehbaz’s _____O_____ to govern is
_____P_____, requiring support from arch-rival PPP amid mass resignations by Imran Khan’s PTI
lawmakers requiring bypolls.
The _____Q_____ ties between PML(N) and the Army could also determine the course of India-
Pakistan ties and the future of the new government. For the moment, Pakistan’s _____R____
economic troubles will certainly be top priority for Shehbaz and the Army. Whether these
_____S_____ will prompt Pakistan to _____T_____ the terror infrastructure and discontinue the
proxy war remains to be seen. Given how Pakistan has received several bailouts without any

64
_____U_____ change in its Kashmir policy, India has good reason to remain _____V_____ about
any dramatic breakthrough.
country’s internal politics and external relations.
91. M
a. establishment
b. constitution
c. organization
country’s internal politics and external relations.
92. N
a. failure
b. miscarriage
c. triumph
Shehbaz’s _____O_____ to govern is _____P_____, requiring support from arch-rival PPP amid
mass resignations by Imran Khan’s PTI lawmakers requiring bypolls.
93. O
a. mandate
b. directive
c. decree
Shehbaz’s _____O_____ to govern is _____P_____, requiring support from arch-rival PPP amid
mass resignations by Imran Khan’s PTI lawmakers requiring bypolls.

65
94. P
a. precarious
b. shaky
c. moored
The _____Q_____ ties between PML(N) and the Army could also determine the course of India-
Pakistan ties and the future of the new government.
95. Q
a. frigid
b. frosty
c. inhospitable
For the moment, Pakistan’s _____R____ economic troubles will certainly be top priority for Shehbaz
and the Army.
96.
a. mounting
b. climbing
c. waxing
Whether these _____S_____ will prompt Pakistan to _____T_____ the terror infrastructure and
discontinue the proxy war remains to be seen.
97. S
a. prerogatives
b. entitlements
c. privileges

66
Whether these _____S_____ will prompt Pakistan to _____T_____ the terror infrastructure and
discontinue the proxy war remains to be seen.
98. T
a. dismantle
b. congregate
c. take to bits
Given how Pakistan has received several bailouts without any _____U_____ change in its Kashmir
policy, India has good reason to remain _____V_____ about any dramatic breakthrough.
99. U
a. discernible
b. imperceptible
c. noticeable
Given how Pakistan has received several bailouts without any _____U_____ change in its Kashmir
policy, India has good reason to remain _____V_____ about any dramatic breakthrough.
100. V
a. sceptical
b. cynical
c. sanguine
Political debates about language can convey the impression of fierce _____M_____ and an issue
that remains _____N_____. Approach the subject from the other end, that of voters communicating

67
their preferences, and the picture is quite _____O_____. Consider developments across states,
_____P______ by different political parties. The Chennai Corporation has now extended spoken
English classes in schools run by it from just a handful to the entire list. Karnataka plans to
_____Q_____ spoken English sessions in primary classes in its proposed model government
schools.
The _____R_____ from parents has led to a sharp rise in the proportion of English medium schools
in India. More than a quarter of schoolchildren are now _____S_____ in English medium, making it
the largest after Hindi medium. This trend has influenced the political system and state governments
are now ______T______ with bilingual textbooks in government-run schools. Telangana,
Maharashtra and Karnataka are among states where textbooks have content printed in both regional
language and English to get children _____U_____ with key terms in both languages. It’s a
pragmatic approach as the rapid _____V_____ of knowledge is more easily accessed with a
knowledge of English, the world’s most important lingua franca.
that remains _____N_____.
101. M
a. contestation
b. contention
c. disputation
that remains _____N_____.
102. N
a. unsettled
b. up in the air
c. decreed
Approach the subject from the other end, that of voters communicating their preferences, and the
picture is quite _____O_____.
103. O
a. akin

68
b. different
c. divergent
Consider developments across states, _____P______ by different political parties.
104. P
a. administered
b. managed
c. conducted
The Chennai Corporation has now extended spoken English classes in schools run by it from just a
handful to the entire list. Karnataka plans to _____Q_____ spoken English sessions in primary
classes in its proposed model government schools.
105. Q
a. introduce
b. put in place
c. bring in
The _____R_____ from parents has led to a sharp rise in the proportion of English medium schools
in India.
106. R
a. demand
b. exigency
c. reluctance
More than a quarter of schoolchildren are now _____S_____ in English medium, making it the
largest after Hindi medium.
107. S

69
a. enrolled
b. signed on
c. signed up
This trend has influenced the political system and state governments are now ______T______ with
bilingual textbooks in government-run schools.
108. T
a. experimenting
b. trying out
c. making off
Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka are among states where textbooks have content printed in
both regional language and English to get children _____U_____ with key terms in both languages.
It’s a pragmatic approach as the rapid _____V_____ of knowledge is more easily accessed with a
109. U
a. benighted
b. acquainted
c. familiarized
Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka are among states where textbooks have content printed in
both regional language and English to get children _____U_____ with key terms in both languages.
It’s a pragmatic approach as the rapid _____V_____ of knowledge is more easily accessed with a
110. V
a. expansion
b. diversification
c. buildout

70
ANSWER
1. (Answer - D. All a, b and c
All mean - to evaluate.)
a and b - outcome.
rationale - a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or belief.)
on paper / on record / in print - in writing.)
All mean - engage in long and careful consideration.)
a and c - disadvantages.
edge - a quality or factor which gives superiority over close rivals.)
6.(Answer - C. Only b
maximize - make the most of.
a and c - to make (something) appear less important than it really is.)
All mean - benefit.)

71
All mean - facts provided or learned about something or someone.)
a and b - sadness associated with some wrong done.
gratification - satisfaction.)
a and c - relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.
categoric - absolute.)
a and b - having or characterized by a fundamental weakness or imperfection.
weighty - logical.)
All mean - roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of.)
a and b - to inspect.
brush aside - to ignore.)
a and b - come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

pull out of - (of a vehicle) move out from the side of the road, or from its normal position in order to
overtake.)
15.(Answer - C. Only b and c
b and c - the action of violating someone or something.

72
homage - special honour or respect shown publicly.)
a and b - ability.
c - disability.)
All mean - regard (someone or something) as having a specified quality.)
a and c - very bad.
dazzling - superb.)
All mean - an idiosyncratic belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality or
rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder.)
a and b - cause to become.
proffer - to offer.)
21. (Answer - A. Only a
a barrage of - a great number of.
blast - a destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outwards from an explosion.
cascade - a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.)
All mean - go over something quickly as a reminder or rehearsal.)

73
a and b - the quality of being right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation.
ineptness - unsuitability.)
a and c - feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
elation - joy.)
All mean - return to (a less active or a worse state).
dependant / addict - a person who relies on another, especially a family member, for support.
dependence - the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.)
All mean - angry.)
b and c - to injure or hurt.
revamp - give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to.)
a and b - importance.
pettiness - insignificance.)
All mean - become aware of (a fact or situation).


74
a and b - have faith in.
figure on - expect something to happen or be the case.)
b and c - decide or announce that (a planned event) will not take place.
vindicate - to validate.)
All mean - end results.)
a and c - bring into effective action.
concentrated - intense.)
a and b - shape or form (something) differently or again.
put down - stop holding something and place it on a surface or the ground.)
a and b - see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
discount - to ignore.)
All mean - devastating.)
possess - to own.)

75
All mean - join or merge to form a single unit or substance.)
40.(Answer - A. Only a
virtually - by means of virtual reality techniques.
b and c - almost.
It doesn't make sense.)
41. (Answer - B. Only a and c
a and c - identify the nature of (an illness or other problem) by examination of the symptoms.
pronounce - make the sound of (a word or part of a word) in the correct or a particular way.)
b and c - (of a medical practitioner) advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for
someone, especially in writing.
proscribe - to ban.)
All mean - problems.)
All mean - a small cylindrical glass bottle, typically used for medical samples or for potions or
medicines.)
b and c - difficult.
chewy - (of food, especially meat) difficult to cut or chew.)
All mean - a physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease,
particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.)

76
b and c - worsen.
ameliorate - to improve.)
b and c - provable.
far-fetched - unlikely.)
All mean - correct.)
weaning - accustoming (someone) to managing without something which they have become
dependent on.
reckon - consider or regard in a specified way.
count - to depend.)
a and b - unwise.
abstemious - indulging only very moderately in something, especially food and drink.)
a and b - the action of spending funds.
restoration - the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.)
inflection point - a time of significant change in a situation; a turning point.
intonation - the rise and fall of the voice in speaking.)

77
All mean - serious.)
a and b - the right or opportunity to use or benefit from something.
cutback - restriction.)
profusion - abundance.)
All mean - save up for future use.)
footfall - the number of people entering an area in a given time.
stride - a step or stage in progress towards an aim.

footmark - a footprint.)
All mean - occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on.)
a and b - sth that permits escape or release.
archway - a curved structure forming a passage or entrance.)
a and b - the adverse results of a situation or action.
ground - reason.)

78
All mean - exceptionally large.)
a and b - heightening.
quash - to nullify.)
composure - relaxation.)
All mean - a financial return.)
b and c - got smaller.
fatten - to increase.)
call for / warrant - require.
revoke - officially cancel (a decree, decision, or promise).
b and c - durable.
flimsy - insubstantial and easily damaged.)
All mean - take action so as to be free of (a troublesome or unwanted person or thing).

79
a and c - to control.
predispose - make someone liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.)
All mean - completely destroy (a building, town, or other settlement).
a and c - fast.
unhurriedly - slowly.)
a and b - painful.
assuasive - comforting.)
All mean - an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct.)
a - the action of bringing resources into effective action.
b and c - withdrawal.)
a and b - cause distress to.
oblige - make (someone) legally or morally bound to do something.)

80
a and b - innocent.
c - guilty.)
All mean - characterized by or fond of small and overfine distinctions.)
b and c - destruction.
fabrication - construction.)
a - (especially of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.
appellant - a person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.
appellation - a name or title.)
All mean - mark (sth) for attention or treatment in a specified way.)
All mean - a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.)
b and c - to force.
knock down - demolish a building or other structure.)


81
a and b - not of the same quality throughout; inconsistent.
c - including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.)
a and c - importance.
b - insignificance.)
All mean - a thing that causes someone to remember something.)
87. (Answer - B. Only a and c)
a and b - not costing a great deal.)
a and c - troubling.
dense - heavy.)
b and c - obtain possession or use of (something, typically a quality or ability) again after losing it.
mislay - unintentionally put (an object) where it cannot readily be found and so lose it temporarily.)
All mean - an organized group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or
government department.)

82
a and b - failure.
c - success.)
All mean - an official order or commission to do something.)
a and b - unstable.
moored - stable.)
b and c - cold and unfriendly in manner.
frigid - very cold in temperature.)
All mean - increasing.)
All mean - a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.)
a and c - deconstruct or break up.
congregate - to assemble.)
a and c - able to be discerned; visible.
imperceptible - so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived.)

83
a and b - doubtful.
sanguine - optimistic.)
All mean - the action or process of disputing or arguing.)
a and b - not yet resolved.
decreed - settled by commands.)
b and c - different.
a - similar.)
All mean - manage and be responsible for the running of (a business, organization, etc.).
All mean - bring (something, especially a product, measure, or concept) into use or operation for the
first time.)
a and b - pressing requirements.
reluctance - unwillingness.)
All mean - officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course.)

84
a and b - try out new ideas or methods.
make off - leave hurriedly, especially in order to avoid duty or punishment.)
b and c - make someone aware of or familiar with.
benighted - in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance.)
All mean - the action of becoming larger or more extensive.)

85
3. CHAPTER - PARAJUMBLE
Directions(1-3): Rearrange the following SEVEN sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) in a
proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the questions given below.
(a) And when it comes to private consumption the situation is not good.
(b) Following a contraction of 6.6% in 2020-21, the latest GDP number indicates that the impact of
the outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsequent national lockdown has been overcome.
(c) However, when seen in terms of per capita private consumption, the message is different - Per
capita private consumption in 2021-22 was Rs 61,215, lower than the Rs 61,594 recorded in 2019-
20.
(d) However, a more detailed look at the components of GDP suggests that overall recovery in
relation to the pre-pandemic period is weak.
(e) In other words, private consumption today in per capita terms is yet to catch up with the pre-
pandemic period.
(f) India’s GDP in 2021-22 grew 8.7% to record Rs 147.35 lakh crore.
(g) In absolute terms, private consumption in 2021-22 was Rs 83.77 lakh crore, higher by 1.4% in
relation to the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20.
1. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the CONCLUDING statement and the INTERMEDIATE
statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d
2. Which of the following combinations is the combination of THREE CONSECUTIVE statements

after the correct rearrangement?

86
A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g
D. b a c
3. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
INTRODUCTORY statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
Directions(4-6): Rearrange the following SIX sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) in a proper
sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the questions given below.
(a) Hence, GoI and states need to recalibrate their fiscal stance as inflation-adjusted private
consumption is weak but tax collections will overshoot expectations as nominal GDP grew at 19.5%
in 2021-22 and this momentum will be maintained for a while.
(b) And, the economic performance was dragged down by the Omicron wave in the quarter.
(c) Given a rising trend in inflation and a still weak demand, fiscal policy will have to play the primary
role in providing support to the economy.
(d) The GDP in the January-March quarter grew 4.1% to Rs 40.78 lakh crore.
(e) The Indian economy is entering a challenging phase.
(f) Since then, conflict between Russia and Ukraine has worsened the environment and pushed up
price levels in commodities.
4. Which of the following options is the pair of the TERMINAL statement and the INTRODUCTORY
statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. c f
B. a e

87
C. c d
D. a c

A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
6. Which of the following options is the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE statement and the
PENULTIMATE statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
Directions(7-9): Rearrange the following SEVEN sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) in a
(a) Officials seemed more worried about the “possibility for misinterpretation” and stressed that the
Aadhaar ecosystem had adequate safety features.
(b) A stung GoI withdrew the note and asked cardholders to exercise “normal prudence” while
sharing Aadhaar numbers.
(c) Digital photo-editing tools can easily manipulate images and text on Aadhaar card copies.
(d) However, specific concerns raised by the UIDAI advisory weren’t addressed.
(e) However, such fraud can’t evade authentication checks against UIDAI’s central identities data
repository.

88
(f) A UIDAI advisory warning citizens of the misuse of Aadhaar card photocopies and e-copies by
unlicensed entities went viral across the country.
(g) But in reality, many private agencies demand and collect Aadhaar card photocopies even when
they are not licensed to do online authentication.
7. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the CONCLUDING statement and the INTERMEDIATE
statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d

A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g
D. b a c
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
Directions(10-12): Rearrange the following SEVEN sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) in
a proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Then answer the questions given below.
The sentence in bold is fixed and the FOURTH statement.


89
(a) But, the crux of the problem is that governments have been too permissive about private and
public entities seeking and collecting personal data.
(b) These crimes require GoI to strongly regulate biometric and Aadhaar data collection by private
entities.
(c) So, GoI specifically allowed telecom companies to use Aadhaar for e-KYC.
(d) The Supreme Court had barred commercial entities from demanding Aadhaar.
(e) But restrictions should be put in for many other entities demanding and storing Aadhaar.
(f) Telangana police recently warned users who lost money to disable their biometric link to Aadhaar.
(g) The flipside was that many people in a document-poor country didn’t have any means to prove
identity when, say, applying for a SIM card.
10. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the CONCLUDING statement and the
ANTEPENULTIMATE statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e g
A. b d g
B. a d g
C. d e g
D. b a c
12. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the PENULTIMATE statement and the

90
A. e f
B. g f
C. c f
D. e d
Directions(13-15): Rearrange the following SIX sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) in a
(a) Higher productivity somewhere, higher stress elsewhere.
(b) Organisations, particularly in the technology industry, are facing employee churn.
(c) It’s early days and research shows mixed responses.
(d) So employers are experimenting, especially in the West, with concepts like a 4-day working
week.
(e) Covid forced employers to greenlight working from home.
(f) One outcome, as normalcy at the workplace returns, is disaffection at having to go to office.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. f b d

91
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. d c
(a) All the number crunching and pre-tournament records were overwhelmed by the two most
cohesive units which proved the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.
(b) It is that both at different points emerged as the most unlikely winners with Royals winning the
inaugural edition in 2008 and Titans capping a fairy tale run with the 2022 IPL crown.
(c) Two unfancied teams, led by players at the periphery of India’s national teams, knocking out pre-
tournament favourites backed by large support staff and data analysts influencing auction choices is
what makes cricket riveting.
(d) There was a common thread running through them.
(e) It was fitting that the IPL final took place between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals.
(f) In sport, invincibility on paper doesn’t always carry the day.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

92
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
(a) But the preliminary report shows weather factors behind the ill-fated crash.
(b) Bodies of all the 22 people aboard the plane were recovered as of Tuesday morning.
(c) The exact cause of the crash is unknown, officials said.
(d) The wreckage of the plane was found at Sano Sware Bhir in Thasang of Mustang, according to
the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the country’s aviation regulator.
(e) A Tara Air plane which had gone missing since Sunday morning was found crashed on a
mountain on Monday morning.
(f) Sixteen Nepalis, including three crew, four Indian and two German nationals were in the plane.
A. c f

93
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
(a) And firearm manufacturers have played a major role in influencing American gun culture.
(b) Yet during much of America’s ongoing conversation about the root causes of gun violence, the
makers of guns have typically escaped scrutiny.
(c) Because evidence shows that the culture around guns contributes significantly to gun violence.
(d) As a public health researcher, I find this odd.
(e) Americans have blamed many culprits, from mental illness to inadequate security, for the tragic
mass shootings that are occurring with increasing frequency in schools, offices and theaters across
the US.

94
(f) The latest, which occurred on May 24, 2022, at a Texas elementary school and left at least 19
children and two teachers dead, was the 213th mass shooting this year – and the 27th that took
place in a school.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. f b d
A. c b
B. d c
C. f c
D. c d
(a) It also proposed creating a stockpile to equitably share the limited vaccines and drugs available
worldwide.
(b) The World Health Organisation(WHO) says nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have been reported
in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease.

95
(c) Because, the first sequencing of the virus shows that the strain is not different from the strains we
can find in endemic countries.
(d) But WHO described the epidemic as containable.
(e) But there is no evidence that any genetic changes in the virus are responsible.
(f) There are still many unanswered questions about what triggered the unprecedented outbreak of
monkeypox outside of Africa.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c b
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a c
C. a f e
D. e d b
SECOND FROM THE BEGINNING statement, respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. c b
B. a f
C. f d
D. c d

96
(a) The three school shootings to surpass its death toll of 13 – 12 students, one teacher – have all
taken place within the last decade.
(b) When the Columbine High School massacre took place in 1999 it was seen as a watershed
moment in the United States – the worst mass shooting at a school in the country’s history.
(c) And now the Robb Elementary School assault in Uvalde, Texas, where on May 24, 2022, at least
19 children and two adults were murdered.
(d) Now, it ranks fourth.
(e) The 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which
claimed the lives of 17 people.
(f) 2012’s Sandy Hook Elementary attack, in which a gunman killed 26 children and school staff.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c b
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a c
C. a f e
D. e d b

97
A. c b
B. a f
C. f d
D. c d
(a) This means that about 11.2 crore jobs might have been lost between this period, according to the
report.
(b) Multiple global crises are threatening global labour market recovery, with increasing inequalities
within and between countries, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization
(ILO).
(c) The report found that the gender gap in low- and middle-income countries remains larger than the
pre-pandemic level despite some progress.
(d) The ninth edition of the ILO Monitor on the ‘World of Work’ found that after significant gains made
during the last quarter of 2021, the number of hours worked globally dropped in the first quarter of
2022, to 3.8% below the pre-crisis benchmark (fourth quarter of 2019).
(e) The report also said that the great divergence between richer and poorer countries evident during
the recovery period is reflected in the gender gap in hours worked.
(f) Multiple economic crises including inflation, especially in energy and food prices, financial
turbulence, potential debt distress, and global supply chain disruption, exacerbated by war in Ukraine
may further deteriorate the number of hours worked in 2022, the report said.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c b
D. a c

98
A. b c a
B. f a c
C. a f e
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f d
D. c d
(a) But, it has a maximum duration of three years.
(b) Hence, more than 17 million voters are expected to exercise their choice to select members of
the 151-seat House of Representatives and 40 Senate seats.
(c) According to the Australian constitution, there is no fixed term for the House of Representatives.
(d) Australia has compulsory voting.
(e) Australians will be voting to elect their next government – and possibly a new prime minister – at
the end of a campaign, which has seen high-pitched exchanges between the candidates over the
state of the economy, climate change and the country’s largest trade partner, China.
(f) The prime minister will belong to the party or coalition, which gets at least 76 seats in the House
of Representatives.

99
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
(a) That, coupled with sustained high summer temperatures over the Indian landmass necessary for
formation of low-pressure systems, should translate into a “normal” monsoon this time.
(b) Moreover, the probability of a below-normal/deficient monsoon — aggregate rainfall turning out
less than 96 per cent of the historical average — has been scaled down from 40 per cent to 19 per
cent in the agency’s forecast update issued on Tuesday.

100
(c) La Niña, an abnormal cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean waters off South America that causes
moisture-laden winds to move westwards towards Asia, is generally favourable for rains in India.
(d) This is as against the 99 per cent projection in the IMD’s first forecast on April 14.
(e) Optimism over a good southwest monsoon has strengthened, with the India Meteorological
Department (IMD) predicting rainfall for the country during the four-month season (June-September)
at 103 per cent of the historical long period average.
(f) The sanguine prognosis is based on the ongoing La Niña conditions likely to continue in the
upcoming monsoon months.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d

101
(a) In the event, the kharif crop suffered from rainfall deficit during the sowing/early vegetative growth
stage and water-logging at harvesting time in October-November.
(b) This wasn’t the case last year, which saw a month-long dry spell from the second week of July
and too much rain after late-August.
(c) This year, its prevailing even before the monsoon’s start, and hopefully not strengthening further,
should help deliver copious rains during the season, especially from mid-June through August.
(d) La Niña’s arrival from October resulted in excess rain that extended beyond the monsoon season
till January.
(e) A bumper kharif crop is, indeed, required at a time when retail food inflation is ruling
uncomfortably high, at 8.38 per cent year on year in April.
(f) There can be nothing better for the Indian economy today than a monsoon that is normal — not
just overall, but also in terms of spatial and temporal distribution.
(g) La Niña, thus, did more damage than good last time.
INTERMEDIATE statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d
A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g

102
D. b a c
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
Directions(43-45): In the following question, a sentence is given with FOUR words marked as
(A), (B), (C) and (D). These words may or may not be placed at their correct places. Four
options with different arrangements of these words have been provided. Mark the option with
the correct arrangement as the answer. If no rearrangement is required, mark option (E) as
your answer.
43. The government should also step in to improve the (A)workplace of existing laws and increase
budgetary (B)safety for (C)provisions (D)implementation.
A. CBDA
B. DCAB
C. ACBD
D. BDAC
E. No replacement required
44. The (A)endeavours for inclusive (B)sector in the post-pandemic should catalyse (C)quest to
make workplaces in the informal (D)growth safe for women.
A. DBCA
B. ACBD
C. CDAB
D. BDAC
45. The single-part (A)stream applies to nuclear power stations for various reasons including the
(B)tempo that given the technology, a nuclear generator does not usually increase/decrease the
generation at a quick (C)tariff, but maintains a steady (D)fact.

103
A. CDBA
B. ADBC
C. CBDA
D. BDAC
Direction(46-52): Below are some statements, given in a random order. When these
statements are sequenced properly, they'll form a coherent and meaningful paragraph.
In each statement, there are TWO BLANKS, indicating TWO MISSING WORDS. Choose the
correct combination of the missing words.
(a) The purpose is to take a 360-degree look at how India’s COVID-19 management system
________ and came to this _______ pass.
(b) As the ________ second surge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues unabated, the Supreme
Court and multiple high courts have been looking at various dimensions of the _________
mismanagement of the public health crisis across the country.
(c) These _________ are welcome, but there is also a ________ need to set up a formal judicial
commission of inquiry with at least three sitting Supreme Court judges.
(d) The high courts are mainly going into ________ relating to immediate _______ for people
suffering from the lack of oxygen, medicines and hospital beds.
(e) This is the very least we owe to those whose lives were lost due to the ______ ___________ of
the decisions taken or not taken by the government and its leadership.
(f) On the other hand, the Supreme Court has _______ the larger question of the right to health as
an __________ of the right to life flowing from Article 21 of the constitution.
(a) The purpose is to take a 360-degree look at how India’s COVID-19 management system
________ and came to this _______ pass.
46. Which of the following pairs of WORDS can most appropriately fit in the blanks in the
above statement respectively?
a. collapsed, sorry
b. fell in, deplorable

104
c. hold up, groovy
(b) As the ________ second surge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues unabated, the Supreme
Court and multiple high courts have been looking at various dimensions of the _________
mismanagement of the public health crisis across the country.
a. devastating, gross
b. pernicious, blatant
c. deleterious, glaring
(c) These _________ are welcome, but there is also a ________ need to set up a formal judicial
commission of inquiry with at least three sitting Supreme Court judges.
a. deliberations, pressing
b. discussions, crying
c. deferments, compelling
(d) The high courts are mainly going into ________ relating to immediate _______ for people
suffering from the lack of oxygen, medicines and hospital beds,
a. aspects, relief
b. facets, alleviation
c. features, solace

105
(e) This is the very least we owe to those whose lives were lost due to the ______ ___________ of
the decisions taken or not taken by the government and its leadership.
a. sheer, callousness
b. absolute, discernment
c. downright, unfeelingness
(f) On the other hand, the Supreme Court has _______ the larger question of the right to health as
an __________ of the right to life flowing from Article 21 of the constitution.
a. raised, extension
b. brought up, add-on
c. put forward, appendage
52. Which of the following combinations is the combination of THREE CONSECUTIVE

statements after the correct rearrangement?
A. b f c
B. c a e
C. d c a
D. b d c
In each statement, there are TWO BLANKS, indicating A MISSING IDIOM and A WORD.
Choose the correct combination of the missing words.

106
(a) In short, the bureaucrat will become the super editor and super _________, with __________
powers.
(b) Indians have lived through ________ ________ over the deterioration in the functioning of
parliament and the judiciary.
(c) And this is being done in the _______ of __________ all internet-based media platforms across
the board – including news, entertainment, OTT Apps like Netflix, Hotstar and big social platforms
like Facebook, Twitter etc.
(d) To this one can now add the media, which is _________ as the fourth _______ of our
democracy.
(e) Needless to say, the move has shocked the entire news media __________ which had
_________ the new regulations would cover mainly social media platforms and entertainment
segments like OTT players who have been in a dialogue with the government for some time now.
(f) The new Information Technology rules notified by the government give ___________ powers to
the executive to summarily take down content from digital news media platforms on _______
grounds, and without so much as giving the publisher a hearing.
(a) In short, the bureaucrat will become the super editor and super _________, with __________
powers.
53. Which of the following pairs of a WORD and an IDIOM can most appropriately fit in the
blanks in the above statement respectively?
a. censor, across the board

b. expurgator, coast-to-coast
c. proscription, wall-to-wall
(b) Indians have lived through ________ ________ over deterioration in the functioning of parliament
and the judiciary.

107
a. acute, the heebie-jeebies

b. critical, the shakes
c. grave, the jumps
(c) And this is being done in the _______ of __________ all internet-based media platforms across
the board – including news, entertainment, OTT Apps like Netflix, Hotstar and big social platforms
like Facebook, Twitter etc.
a. name, keeping a beady eye on

b. authority, keeping a tab on
c. sake, turning one's back on
(d) To this one can now add the media, which is _________ as the fourth _______ of our
democracy.
56. Which of the following pairs of an IDIOM and a WORD can most appropriately fit in the
a. taken notice of, column

b. paid attention to, pillar
c. taken into consideration, herm
(e) Needless to say, the move has shocked the entire news media __________ which had
_________ the new regulations would cover mainly social media platforms and entertainment
segments like OTT players who have been in a dialogue with the government for some time now.
a. fraternity, taken as read

b. brotherhood, rendered null and void
c. fellowship, taken for granted

108
(f) The new Information Technology rules notified by the government give ___________ powers to
the executive to summarily take down content from digital news media platforms on _______
grounds, and without so much as giving the publisher a hearing.
58. Which of the following pairs of an IDIOM and a WORD can most appropriately fit in the
a. out of the ordinary, vague

b. one of a kind, murky
c. run-of-the-mill, unambiguous

F. b f c
G. c a e
H. d c a
I. b d c
J. None of the above options
Direction(60-65): Four statements are given below, labelled A, B, C and D, among these, three
statements are logically connected. From the given options, choose the option that does not
fit into the theme of the passage.
You're now given three statements. You've to replace the odd statement with a statement /
statements from the three statements given, that is/are in line with the other three statements.
60.
A. Stephen Hawking — who had motor neurone disease — noted that while persons with disabilities
face attitudinal, physical and financial barriers, he had been fortunate in having the aid of computer
experts who supported him with an assisted communication system and a speech synthesiser which
enabled him to compose lectures and papers.
B. In Upper Primary and Secondary school, the use of assistive technology may be used to
accommodate for the difficulties that the student may be experiencing; software such as Text to
Speech allows for better comprehension of information and independent learning.

109
C. Manual wheelchairs increase access to education and employment while reducing healthcare
costs due to a reduction in the risk of pressure sores and contractures.
D. Even in high-income countries, assistive products are often rationed or not included within health
and welfare schemes, leading to high out-of-pocket payments by users and their families.
A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No statement is ODD
61. Which of the following statements can replace the odd statement in the above context?
a. Countries with the highest prevalence of disability-related health conditions tend to be those
with the lowest supply of health workers skilled in provision of assistive technology.
b. Alternative keyboards are designed with the disabled student in mind, often having features
like oversized keys, color-coded keys, and key guards to allow learners with visual disabilities
to type and/or interact with a computer more efficiently.
c. FM systems work using radio broadcast technology; with a transmitter microphone and a
receiver, the teacher and student can maintain a consistent sound level regardless of
distance and background noise.
62.
A. At the start of an employee contract, companies may need the employee to sign various
documents, including the company rules and regulation agreement form; also, the employee may be
given a handbook that may serve as a guide.
B. Good professional relationships are not only a thing that fosters teamwork among employees, but
also help with individual career development for employees.
C. Businesses that care for their employees at every level and treat them according to the highest
honorable standards are attractive to job seekers; also, if you work for a company that respects its
employees, you are more likely to perform well and stay with the business for a long time.
D. At the heart of every business is a product or service and behind every product or service ever
sold was an idea; the essence of the idea drives everything forward, because the business idea
creates a reason to invest and it also creates sales and profit.

110
a. Businesses have responsibilities to their employees, their clients or customers, and, in some
cases, to their board of directors; some of these may be contractual or legal obligations,
others may be promises.
b. Companies that collect customer data normally promise to secure that information and not
share it without the customer's permission; the same applies to employee information.
c. Achieving a diverse workplace means using recruiting practices that give equal opportunity to
people from different ethnic, gender and social groups; this can add time and effort to the
hiring process, but it is worthwhile.
64.
A. Hackers obtain passwords by “sniffing” the connection to a network to gain access to the
passwords; hackers also obtain passwords by using social engineering tactics, and physically
looking around desks and offices.
B. Phishing attacks use fake communication, such as an email, to trick the receiver into opening it
and carrying out the instructions inside, such as providing a credit card number.
C. Most internal cyber-attacks are after employee information, potentially for poaching or recruiting
purposes; on the other hand, there are also cases of disgruntled employees with access to servers
and confidential information that tend to target and steal intellectual property in order to carry out
their personal vendetta.
D. Session hijacking is a type of man-in-the-middle attack wherein there is a session hijacked

between a network server and client; the bad actor, or attacker, replaces its IP address for the
client’s and the server continues the session; during this attack, the server believes it is still
communicating with the trusted client.
a. Sometimes, the malicious scripts install malware on the computer of a web page visitor; in
other cases, the hackers may redirect the visitor to a website that the hackers own, where
they may be hacked.

111
b. Email attachments with malware are common tools hackers use for phishing; likewise, spear
phishing is the practice of targeting a specific person or company in an attempt to obtain
valuable information or exploit a person or company.
c. Almost all modern platforms and applications are using Multi-factor authentication (MFA),
which is for a good reason. MFA makes users require two or more pieces of evidence of their
identity to log in; this way, if a bad actor does access your login credentials, your account is
still secure as they will not have access to your MFA details.
(a) That will give armed forces personnel extraordinary powers to search, arrest and even shoot on
suspicion.
(b) This comes after the Centre’s recent move revoking AFSPA from 23 districts in Assam and 15
police station areas each in Manipur and Nagaland.
(c) This obviates the need to impose a colonial-era law.
(d) It is indeed welcome.
(e) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s asserted that the Centre is working towards revoking the
draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the entire Northeast.
(f) There’s no denying that militancy in the Northeast has appreciably declined with many militant
outfits inking peace agreements or joining negotiations with the Centre.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c

112
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
(a) Plenty of signs pointed to a surge in domestic coal demand, but IR missed them.
(b) The real question is did IR have to be faced with this choice in the first place?
(c) The current situation is not unexpected.
(d) Forced to choose between massive power outages on account of coal shortage and
inconveniencing passengers, IR took a tough call.
(e) Indian Railways (IR) will cancel nearly 670 trips of passenger trains till May 24 to focus on moving
coal to thermal power plants.
(f) No. The shortage of railway rakes for transporting coal is on account of poor planning.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d

113
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
(a) By this measure, IR vastly underestimated the requirements for 2021-22.
(b) It makes up about 18% of its goods traffic.
(c) A year later, the revised estimate forecast 143,462 million NTK.
(d) The best measure for freight movement is net tonne km (NTK), which measures a payload of one
tonne carried over 1 km.
(e) At a time when the finance ministry was forecasting a ‘V’ shaped recovery in the economy, IR got
its calculations wrong.
(f) Transporting coal to thermal plants is the most important part of Indian Railway’s(IR) freight
operations.
(g) On February 1, 2021, IR estimated it would move 118,750 million NTK in FY 2020-21.

114
INTERMEDIATE statement respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e a
B. c a
C. g e
D. e d
A. b d g
B. a c e
C. d a g
D. b a c
A. e f
B. g f
C. c b
D. e d
(a) This lack of normalisation for the Northeast in turn provided conditions for rampant corruption and
militants to thrive.
(b) How the draconian law can lead to tragic consequences was once again exemplified by the
botched anti-militancy operation in Nagaland’s Mon district last December that led to the killing of 14
civilians.
(c) That prevented full integration of the Northeast with the rest of India.
(d) It also gave armed forces personnel too much power without accountability.

115
(e) Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has long been criticised by civil society organisations
and activists for undermining Constitutionally guaranteed human rights.
(f) Plus, the imposition of AFSPA also led to a sense of otherness.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d

116
(a) It is this backdrop that lends immensity to a ruling by Italy’s top court this week, which has found
the automatic imparting of the father’s name to children as “constitutionally illegitimate”.
(b) It can carry a whole worldview, which in turn can shape material reality in powerful ways.
(c) And the next generation is trained to repeat this cycle.
(d) Specifically, patrilineal surnaming norms carry a wide-ranging patriarchal dividend.
(e) What’s in a name?
(f) There fathers have dominance in family decision-making while mothers sacrifice their jobs to do
the unpaid labour of housework and childcare.
A. c f
B. a e
C. c d
D. a c
A. b c a
B. f a e
C. a f d
D. e d b
A. c b

117
B. a f
C. f c
D. c d
ANSWER
1.(Answer - A. e a
The correct arrangement is -
f b d a g c e )
2.(Answer - C. d a g)
3.(Answer - B. g f)
4.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
5.(Answer - D. e d b)
6.(Answer - C. f c)
7.(Answer - A. e a
f b d a g c e )
9. (Answer - B. g f)
10. (Answer - D. e g

118
f b a d g c e )
11.(Answer - B. a d g)
12.(Answer - C. c f)
13.(Answer - B. a e
e f b d c a )
14.(Answer - D. f b d)
15.(Answer - D. d c)
16.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a
In sport, invincibility on paper doesn’t always carry the day - Two unfancied teams..
These two statements are correlated.

The message is - big names don't always bring success.
Even an unfancied team can be the winner.
unfancied - not considered likely to win.

carry the day - be victorious or successful.)
18.(Answer - C. f c)
19.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )

119
20. (Answer - D. e d b)
22.(Answer - B. a e
e f b d c a )
23.(Answer - D. f b d)
24.(Answer - B. d c)
25.(Answer - C. c b
b d a f e c)
26.(Answer - C. a f e)
27.(Answer - C. f d)
28.(Answer - C. c b
b d a f e c)
30. (Answer - C. f d)
31.(Answer - C. c b


120
b d a f e c)
33.(Answer - C. f d)
34.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
37.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
40. (Answer - A. e a
f b d a g c e )
42.(Answer - B. g f)
43.(Answer - B. DCAB
The government should also step in to improve the implementation of existing laws and increase
budgetary provisions for workplace safety.)
44.(Answer - C. CDAB

121
The quest for inclusive growth in the post-pandemic should catalyse endeavours to make
workplaces in the informal sector safe for women.
quest - a long or arduous search for something.)
45.(Answer - A. CDBA
The single-part tariff applies to nuclear power stations for various reasons including the fact that
given the technology, a nuclear generator does not usually increase/decrease the generation at a
quick tempo, but maintains a steady stream.
stream - a continuous flow.)
collapse / fall in - suddenly fall down or give way.
deplorable - bad and unfortunate.
hold up - support and prevent something from falling.

groovy - excellent.)
The first words mean - destructive.
The second words mean - very obvious.)
deliberation - discussion.
deferment - the action or fact of putting something off to a later time; postponement.
This doesn't make sense.
All the second words mean - urgent.)
The first words mean - a particular way in which something may be considered.
The second words mean - a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or
distress.)

122
All first words mean - complete.
callousness / unfeelingness - insensibility.
discernment - the ability to judge well.)
The first words mean - cause to occur or to be considered.

The second words mean - a thing that is added or attached to something larger or more important.)
52.(Answer - B. c a e
b d f c a e)
censor / expurgator - an official who examines books, films, news, etc. that are about to be
published and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a
threat to security.
across the board / coast-to-coast / wall-to-wall - wide-ranging.
proscription - the action of forbidding something; banning.

It doesn't make sense.)
All the idioms mean - anxiety.
acute / critical / grave - serious.)
keep a beady eye / tab on - to regulate.
turn one's back on - to ignore.


123
The correct phrase is - in the name of - for the sake of / by the authority of.)
take notice of / pay attention to / take into consideration - to regard.
column / pillar / germ - a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a
building, or as an ornament or monument.)
57.(Answer - D. Only a and c
All three words mean - a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.
take as read / take for granted - presume; suppose that something is the case on the basis of
probability.
render null and void - to cancel.)
These idioms mean - unprecedented or unusual.
run-of-the-mill - usual or common.
vague / murky - of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning.
unambiguous - clear.)
b d f c a e)
60. (Answer - D. D
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, B and C are talking about
the contributions of Assistive Technology and how they work.
But, D is talking about the challenges in the field of Assistive products.)
61. (Answer - C. Only b and c


124
b and c are talking about the benefits and working procedures of assistive technology.
While, a is talking about a challenge in the field of Assistive Technology.)
62. (Answer - D. D
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, B and C are talking about
BUSINESS ETHICS, while statement D is talking about BUSINESS IDEA.)
All these statements are talking about BUSINESS ETHICS.
Business ethics - Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics, that examines
ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment. It applies
to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire
organizations.)
64. (Answer - C. C
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, B and D are talking about
EXTERNAL CYBER ATTACKS.
C is talking about INTERNAL CYBER ATTACKS.)
a and b are talking about EXTERNAL CYBER ATTACKS.
c is talking about a PREVENTIVE METHOD FOR CYBER ATTACKS.)
66.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
69.(Answer - B. a e

125
e d b f c a )
72.(Answer - A. e a
f b d a g c e )
74.(Answer - B. g f)
75.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )
78.(Answer - B. a e
e d b f c a )

126
4. CHAPTER -FILLERS
Questions on Single Fillers
Directions(1-50): In each of the questions below, a sentence is given with one blank in it that
indicates a missing word. Choose the correct word/words that will make the sentence
grammatically and contextually complete and correct.
1. There is no reasonable basis to ___________ between married and unmarried women.
a. distinguish
b. differentiate
c. differ
2. No evidence is ______ in support of those claims.
a. cited
b. sited
c. adduced
3. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher accused Argentina of stalling peace _______.
a. talks
b. dialogues
c. negotiations

127
4. The controversy over the under-reporting of Covid deaths in India has _________.
a. spiralled
b. twizzled
c. skyrocketed
5. The Prime Minister’s ________ that bilateral ties are “as stable as the Himalayas” may have been
more aspirational than accurate.
a. assert
b. remark
c. comment
6. They know that these parties have failed to ________ their social, educational and security
problems.
a. inscribe
b. address
c. attend to
7. While measures to manage the situation were underway, I made efforts to understand how it
came to _______.
a. befall
b. pass
c. walk

128
8. Both developments _______ a serious challenge to the international community.
a. present
b. face
c. pose
9. There’s no _______ that he was a great man.
a. denying
b. contradict
c. deny
10. The grouping can’t just be a _________ for economic cooperation and exchange of ideas.
a. dais
b. platform
c. soapbox
A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
11. The only ________ of sticking in India’s sport imagination, unless you are a cricketer, is an
Olympic medal.
a. surety
b. pledge
c. guarantor
12. The district judge will decide first on the Muslim side’s plea for rejecting the ________ under
Order 7, Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code.
a. plaint
b. accusation

129
c. charge
13. Humans are driving the loss of butterflies by destroying wildlife rich _________.
a. habitats
b. habitations
c. habitants
A. Only a B. Only a and b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
14. The effects of climate change are also _________ with the decline of this species.
a. visible
b. accessible
c. seeable
15. Conservationists have worked hard to create the right balance of _________ so it can thrive.
a. greenery
b. vegetation
c. plant life
16. Conservation work has helped bring back some species from the ________.
a. median
b. brink
c. verge

130
17. The Commons committee wants developers to be ________ to calculate emissions over the
entire lifetime of buildings.
a. obligated
b. obliged
c. compelled
18. Yamina Saheb is the _______ author on the United Nations climate change panel, IPCC.
a. leading
b. significant
c. pre-eminent
19. It insists that emissions created in the construction of buildings must be reduced if the UK is to
_______ its climate change targets.
a. meet
b. bump into
c. reach
20. Their report, issued on Tuesday, _________ the eruption and makes recommendations for future
resilience.
a. merits
b. assesses
c. evaluates
21. There are around 15 countries in the world that have various degrees of ________ related to
freelancing.
a. regulations
b. by-laws

131
c. rules
22. The possibilities of rape, violence and _______ that clients can cause to bar dancers have been
neglected.
a. trauma
b. tribulation
c. abatement
23. Children born in remote villages are not easily ________ into schools.
a. accepted
b. embraced
c. welcomed
24. Our country already has a law against __________ at the workplace recognising any form of
distress — physical, emotional, sexual.
a. easement
b. persecution
c. oppression
25. In a country like India, which is severely ________ by poverty, destitution, hunger and
inequalities, survival is the top priority.
a. marred
b. aggrandized
c. impaired

132
26. It is time that such grave _________ for human rights and dignity comes to an end.
a. overlook
b. disregard
c. non-observance
27. The _________ of the SC constitute only the first step towards removing some of the limitations
that they have long faced.
a. directions
b. injunctions
c. orientations
28. Being _________ as a profession could also help improve the poor condition of healthcare
facilities.
a. acknowledged
b. recognized
c. accepted
29. It is a _________ cycle of segregation, deprivation and, ultimately, marginalisation.
a. fiendish
b. viscous
c. vicious
30. The progressive ladder of mobility seems to be so easily available for everyone in our
_________ society.

133
a. classless
b. democratic
c. representative
31. The murder of an elderly man in Madhya Pradesh a few days ago ________ me deeply.
a. clattered
b. rattled
c. disconcerted
32. What was even more gut-wrenching was that a ___________ recorded the assault on video.
a. onlooker
b. passer-by
c. bystander
33. Over the past decade, countless others, not least many women with mental illness, have been
___________ on account of suspicions of them being witches.
a. lynched
b. bumped off
c. put to death
34. If you are feeling particularly lazy, or are _________ and not sure as to what kind of exercises to
add to your routine, Yasmin Karachiwala has just the solution.
a. worn out
b. weary
c. indolent

134
35. It can help with strengthening and _________ correction, metabolism, flexibility and also cardio.
a. posture
b. carriage
c. position
36. England's deep peat soils support rare ecosystems and ________ huge amounts of carbon.
a. mine
b. stockpile
c. lay in
37. YouTube and other online video platforms are a _______ of information that many researchers
also turned to through the last two years of lockdowns.
a. source
b. fount
c. spring
38. But when people just feel connected to these animals and feel emotional, hopefully that can help
elephant ___________, too.
a. safe keeping
b. blighting
c. upkeep

135
39. In his lyrics, he repeatedly asked for definitions of religion, sanctity, justice, and of what
constituted __________ behaviour anyway.
a. civilised
b. genteel
c. humane
40. His image and imagination appeared to stand at _______ with each other.
a. odd
b. cross purposes
c. outs
41. According to police, preliminary investigation showed that besides money collected online,
________ Karthick Gopinath, 32, had also received nearly Rs 6 lakh in his personal bank account.
a. accused
b. accusal
c. defendant
42. The __________ alleged that he “wrongfully used this amount for his own purpose”.
a. compliant
b. complainant
c. plaintiff
43. On its website, Milaap asks people to “_______ funds online for medical emergencies and social
causes”.
a. raise
b. fetch

136
c. conscript
44. The executive officer refused to accept it, ________ that she wasn’t supposed to collect it in her
own account.
a. citing
b. alluding to
c. adding
45. India trusted its scientists, doctors and youth during the COVID–19 pandemic and did not
become a _________ but was a solution-giver for the world.
a. panacea
b. mess
c. predicament
46. He also said that coming out of the negative ________ of Covid, India has become one of the
fastest growing economies in the world.
a. thump
b. footprint
c. ramification
47. The prime minister said that under the scheme if someone needs an education _______ for
professional courses, for higher education, then PM-CARES will help in that too.
a. overdraft
b. credit

137
c. loan
48. Motivating children who lost their parents in the pandemic is extremely important in the biggest
__________ of despair.
a. airspace
b. ambience
c. aura
49. The heights that India has _________ in the last eight years, no one could have imagined earlier.
a. pulled off
b. procured
c. accomplished
50. When this was conveyed to the party top leader, she __________ her happiness and
appreciation.
a. conveyed
b. corroborated
c. articulated
Directions(51-100): In each of the questions below, two sentences are given with one blank in
each of them. Identify the correct word from the options below, that'll fit in those blanks,
making the sentences grammatically and contextually correct.
51.
I. Three years, countless matches and more than my ______ share of dates later, if you ask
what I feel about my online dating experience, I would say grateful.

138
II. The street will then be set up as a street ______, with food stalls, entertainment booths,
exhibitions, and cultural shows.
a. fair
b. gala
c. upright
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
52.
I. There was a renewed ______ on bringing more films to Goa this year.
II. He drove the blade upwards with one powerful ______.
a. thrust
b. stab
c. drift
A. Only a and b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
53.
I. Greenpeace has taken a more high tech _______; it used a NASA satellite to identify
"hotspots".
II. The population will _______ 12 million by the end of the decade.
a. approximate
b. approach
c. slant
A. Only b B. Only a C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
54.
I. Sometimes fires were _______ in the images at the coordinates identified by NASA.
II. He is a highly _______ member of the royal entourage.
a. perceivable
b. visible
c. seeable


139
55.
I. We _______ letters to the landowner's registered address with our findings but received no
reply.
II. He _______ a lecture on endangered species.
a. delivered
b. recited
c. transported
56.
I. In the meantime, a spokesperson said, they would continue to follow best ________
guidelines.
II. Swimmers have one _______ daily grouped by age and ability.
a. rehearsal
b. practice
c. pursuit
57.
I. The Wye Valley project will create a new ________ across an area of about 10,000 hectares.
II. He rarely gives interviews, but he can be found at his natural _______, Republican
fundraising dinners.
a. habitat
b. haunt
c. terrain
58.

140
I. Like others, she is also against the misogyny in so much of our popular and intellectual
_______.
II. This variety of lettuce is popular for its ease of _______.
a. culture
b. humanity
c. civilization
A. Only b B. Only a C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
59.
I. One of the major changes in Indian diplomacy in the last eight years has been the way the
ministers ________ or do not deal with Pakistan.
II. In the first _______, the player who holds the three of hearts leads to the first trick.
a. handle
b. deal
c. treat
A. Only b B. Only a C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
60.
I. US officials produced evidence of his ________ in drug trafficking.
II. She knew that ________ with Adam would only complicate her life.
a. attachment
b. hand
c. involvement
61.
I. Alina Khan, in a lead role, made _______ by winning the jury prize in the Un Certain Regard
section.
II. Wouldn't it be great if _______ as a whole could selectively forget its blemishes?
a. background
b. chronicle
c. history

141
62.
I. From the perspective of the upcoming T20 World Cup later this year, there was no bigger
positive for Team India than the _________ of Pandya.
II. He hopes it bodes well for a __________ in the technology industry.
a. resurgence
b. comeback
c. upturn
63.
I. The accident led to much controversy and _________, as both Kathmandu officials and the
airline blamed each other.
II. You can profit from a short-term investment or _________ that looks risky to others.
a. speculation
b. supposition
c. conjecture
64.
I. A _______ of young fast bowlers has emerged.
II. The staff that _______ the vehicles worked for six weeks.
a. squad
b. crew
c. lot
65.
I. In ________ terms, private consumption in 2021-22 was Rs 83.77 lakh crore.
II. No one dare challenge her ________ authority.
a. absolute

142
b. unbound
c. total
66.
I. The Indian economy is entering a challenging _______.
II. The cabling work should be carried out in _______ with the building work.
a. phase
b. period
c. juncture
67.
I. GoI and states need to recalibrate their fiscal ______.
II. The ideal location for a Street Trader's _______ is a point where the pavement is much wider
than usual or there is a suitable recess.
a. spot
b. standpoint
c. stance
68.
I. However, such fraud can’t evade authentication checks against UIDAI’s central identities data
_______.
II. His mind was a rich ________ of the past.
a. storehouse
b. repository
c. vessel
A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c


143
69.
I. Unlike UIDAI, these smaller entities cannot ______ of robust security protocols.
II. Ted used to ______ ‘I manage ten people.’
a. gloat
b. boast
c. possess
70.
I. For some workers, it may mean less work and also less _______.
II. The destroyer responsible for these atrocities would have to ______ with his life.
a. expend
b. pay
c. wage
71.
I. The idea of a 4-day week will _______ elation.
II. I really need to jog my memory to _______ images of the place.
a. evoke
b. summon
c. induce
72.
I. The sun turned his skin a lovely _______ pink color.
II. The strategy has produced results beyond the most ______ forecasts.
a. auspicious
b. roseate
c. rosy

144
73.
I. In a widely shared _______ Wittgenstein once said, “The limits of my language mean the
limits of my world.”
II. This is not to reduce Christmas to mood or ________.
a. opinion
b. mawkishness
c. sentiment
74.
I. Together, China and Russia want to ______ the rules-based international order.
II. It is 500 pages and is a _______ of the 1989 Public Finance Act.
a. rewrite
b. recast
c. rework
75.
I. Adverse weather conditions were the _______ of the accident.
II. She devoted her whole adult life to the ______ of deaf people.
a. cause
b. tenet
c. root
76.
I. India, which has a historic relationship with Russia but has also ramped up its strategic
engagement with the West, must _________ a clear-headed policy.
II. What elevates good writers is the way they _______ their ideas.

145
a. compose
b. formulate
c. construct
77.
I. A decade ago, elevated inflation took place on the _______ of high economic growth.
II. The balls of your feet should be on the platform, with your _______ slightly below.
a. heels
b. wedge
c. crust
78.
I. There’s no threat to the sustainability of government ______.
II. I owe a _______ of thanks to Suraj for pointing out the deficiencies in my spelling.
a. due
b. debt
c. tally
79.
I. Open markets must not become an argument to __________ inequity and promote
discrimination.
II. A monument to _________ the memory of those killed in the war.
a. perpetuate
b. prolong
c. sustain
80.

146
I. Instead of pointing fingers at hoarding and speculation, India should ________ the export
ban.
II. Indiscriminate bombing had a _________ effect on popular morale.
a. reverse
b. converse
c. swap
81.
I. Under the government, the ongoing _______ on media freedom takes multiple forms.
II. After breakfast, and another sitting, I bundled up and attempted the _______ on Marga Point.
a. assault
b. tirade
c. mugging
82.
I. There have been some _________ orders by the SC.
II. 'It can be a ________ they recognize or a beach they were on,’ Rosenthal said.
a. landmark
b. milestone
c. fence
83.
I. The press is under _______ but must find ways to stand its ground.
II. Government forces laid _______ to the building.
a. blockade
b. siege
c. encirclement

147
84.
I. India should raise its voice in ________ with every journalist and media house in the firing
line.
II. An official call for support and ________ from other unions has also now gone out.
a. solidarity
b. harmony
c. accord
85.
I. Why the government didn’t _________ and act upon the surge is a question that must be
answered.
II. I don’t ________ (that) we’ll solve all our problems with one meeting.
a. anticipate
b. forestall
c. foresee
86.
I. Some may ________ that saving lives must be the priority, not fixing responsibility for past
actions.
II. The locals were incensed and came out of their homes to ________ with the soldiers.
a. argue
b. squabble
c. contend
87.
I. At the end of the day, the lives of millions of Indians is _______ more than the risk of damage
to the reputation and standing of one man.
II. He admitted stealing 10,000 pounds' _______ of computer systems’.

148
a. worth
b. value
c. virtue
88.
I. This is not the first time we are confronted with this _______ question.
II. I'm very _______ with you!’
a. irate
b. vexed
c. contested
89.
I. Their cadres lie in wait for the security _________ to cross their path.
II. The emergency services __________ ran into bomb sites to get people out.
a. personnel
b. staff
c. workers
90.
I. Adivasis are routinely __________ to police violence and harassment.
II. The city had been ________ to Macedonian rule.
a. subjected
b. put through
c. construed
91.
I. The Maoists urgently need to rethink their ________.
II. Time to develop a coherent economic _______.

149
a. approach
b. strategy
c. master plan
92.
I. The killings once again ________ us to ask: Can violence be the only method to transform
society and politics?
II. They _______ my quivering body forward with her arm that's on my shoulder.
a. push forwards
b. hurl
c. propel
93.
I. Activists are not above the law but it is the ________ of process that is the issue here.
II. Everyone obviously knew that the government was a dreadful ________.
a. tyranny
b. autocracy
c. absolutism
94.
I. Police officials said the area has been cordoned off and a manhunt __________ to track
down the assailants.
II. A chair was ________ at him.
a. launched
b. tossed
c. instigated

150
95.
I. She ________ injuries when terrorists fired at her.
II. The allegations of discrimination were ________.
a. validated
b. sustained
c. endured
96.
I. While Tharoor ________ the said committee as chairman, Chidambaram is one of its
members.
II. He ________ his article by saying that havens for wild life don't need buffer zones.
a. heads
b. commands.
c. captains
97.
I. His letter comes a day after ________ Congress leader had lodged a complaint
II. In February 1843 MacCullagh was elected a _______ of the Royal Society.
a. fellow
b. comrade
c. associate
98.
I. He began to speak, but had to stop again to _______ a giggle.
II. Taxes _______ enterprise only if they increase with enterprise.
a. stifle
b. restrain
c. hold back


151
99.
I. The boys at school were sure to _______ at him behind his back.
II. The other girls on the team just stare at me, while I hear a deep ________ somewhere in the
background.
a. snigger
b. snicker
c. smirk
100.
I. He has secured ______ protection from arrest.
II. In the _______ I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
a. interim
b. interval
c. makeshift
Directions(101-106): The following question has THREE blanks. In each blank a preposition
has been omitted. Choose the set of prepositions for each blank that best fits in the context
of the sentence.
101. The Komagata Maru incident is a tragic tale ____ imigrants from British India who traveled
_____ oceans, _____ search of a better life.
A. of, across, in
B. for, through, for
C. on, through, on
D. of, by, in
102. The fact that it took ______ 31 years for Perarivalan’s release despite strong concerns ______
wrongful prosecution and wrongful conviction ought to worry us; Perarivalan’s case forces us to
reckon ______ the tyrannical legacy of terror laws and the broader crisis that plagues criminal justice
administration.

152
A. about, for, in
B. over, of, with
C. over, for, by
D. around, of, on
103. The government may be able to get ______, temporarily, ______ the seductive appeal of
religion but soon the youth will realize that religion will not bring jobs to any one whether he/she is a
Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh or belonging _____ any other faith or an atheist.
A. away, with, to
B. by, by, for
C. by, for, to
D. over, by, to
Direction(54-56): In each of the questions below, two sentences are given with one blank in
each of them. The sentences are then followed by some words. You've to choose the word
that can fit in both the blanks contextually and grammatically.
104.
I. Opening the door to bilateral FTAs is a positive sign but it cannot _______ the potential of
broader agreements in linking up with global supply chains.
II. The child's identical twin would be a perfect _______ for organ donation.
a. match
b. counterpart
c. peer
105.
I. Feelings of ______ nursed by an individual cannot be equated with targeting an entire group
or community.
II. 'You know I care,’ he said, in a ______ voice.
a. wound
b. hurt
c. wounding

153
A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
106.
I. There’s no threat to the sustainability of government ______.
II. I would like to acknowledge my ______ to my teachers.
a. debt
b. tally
c. tab
Para Fillers
Direction(107-116): In each of the following questions a para is given with some of its part
missing and it's represented by a blank. Select the best option(s) to make the sentence
complete and coherent. If no option fits in the blank, choose (E) as your answer.
107. Traditional newspaper readership and revenues will mostly be from digital in a few years. So
exempting print media from the new draconian media rules has no meaning really. All news media
will be affected by the emergency powers to ____________________________
a. take news content down without giving publishers a hearing

b. responsibly censor news to satisfy the basic structure of the constitution
c. be able to have self-regulation with the executive keeping a strict distance.
108. Medical Research (ICMR) researchers conducted an important seroprevalence survey, a

published paper with the methods and results is nowhere in sight. While publishing delays are not
implicitly wrong, even during a pandemic – ________________________ – ICMR can’t use this alibi
because it had already conducted a press conference announcing some of the results from the
survey on June 11.
a. it is always imperative to take the time and publish a good paper

b. it's necessary to publish an imprecise paper in a hurry
c. it's absolutely unforgivable to hold up publishing a good paper

154
109. A pandemic and an epidemic are shifting beasts __________________________ until they die
out. But for as long as they remain active, scientific studies are one of the few types of instruments
that will allow us a semblance of knowing what really is going on.
a. whose patterns are absolutely par for the course

b. whose form and threat are impossible to estimate completely accurately
c. whose structures and dangers are completely in the balance always
110. When The Time was launched five years ago this day, the terrain was even more uncertain.
The field was much less crowded, and our decision to set up a not-for-profit company instead of
raising venture capital or bringing in investors was considered risky. But as our readers and viewers
will testify, _____________________________.
a. the bet we took on the main advantage of being non-profit has proved a winning one
b. the fact that we answer to no ‘boss’ is what has enabled us to follow the story no matter
whose toes end up getting trod on
c. the determination to take no favour from any authoritative body helped our journalism remain
fiercely independent
111. The government sees the media as an institution to be co-opted and used to boost its own
image. And several large media houses have willingly bought into this project.
_______________________________. As for the hysterical television channels and unscrupulous
anchors spewing hatred and bigotry, the less said the better.
a. Many well-known newspapers and television channels have become glorified gazettes for the
government
b. Many well-known media houses are highlighting the government's claims and reserving their
criticism for its opponents
c. No searching questions are asked of the government and its leadership, no demands made
for their accountability
112. India has the fourth largest coal reserves in the world at 352 billion tonnes. If the government
had seriously implemented the enhanced coal production plan between 2016 and 2020,
______________________________.

155
a. the enhanced production of would have sufficed to meet the current need to generate peak
thermal power
b. India wouldn’t have been saddled with the coal shortage today to meet the growing demand
for power
c. the shortage of coal would have prompted the Centre to invoke an emergency provision
113. Despite it having rained already, the bulbous grey clouds hadn’t left Srinagar. I was in Kashmir,
chasing the climate chaos. Alarm bells were ringing as rising temperatures were having a pernicious
effect on water security and agriculture in the region. ___________________________.
a. Some areas had already reported spikes in the average March-April temperatures, taking
them from 15-20 °C to over 30 °C
b. The agriculture and irrigation departments had to put out notices directing farmers to replace
paddy with maize
c. Most of the places reported early sowing due to the fast-shrinking water resources
114. The non-bank lenders whose registrations were cancelled by RBI on Wednesday include UMB
Securities Ltd, Anashri Finvest Ltd, Chadha Finance Private Ltd (now known as Chadha Finance
Ltd), Alexcy Tracon Pvt Ltd and Jhuria Financial Services Pvt Ltd.
“The CoR of the (five) NBFCs have been cancelled on account of violation of RBI guidelines on
outsourcing and Fair Practices Code in their digital lending operations undertaken through third party
apps which was considered detrimental to public interest,” the RBI said.
_____________________________.
a. It further said these companies were also not complying with the extant regulations pertaining
to charging of excessive interest
b. It further said these companies had resorted to undue harassment of customers for loan
recovery purposes
c. These NBFCs used to run apps and service providers supported my veritable sources
115. Much of the recent discourse on Nepal’s trade with China has revolved around Chinese exports
and investments in the country. Scant attention has been paid to the possibility of expanding Nepal’s
exports, either through value addition or through policy reforms.
_______________________________________.

156
a. As a result Nepal exports materials such as rudraksha seeds and yarsagumba (a caterpillar-
fungus fusion with medicinal properties) in their raw form
b. In an April 2021 report, the World Bank stated that Nepal’s “untapped export potential” is 12
times its current value, and that the country missed out on exports to China worth over Rs
17,058 crore between 2010 and 2017
c. As a result Nepali exporters dominate and set the prices because they offer higher transfer
abroad
116. Inflation seems to be hurting politically, which is one reason why the government, forced into a
corner, had to bite down the bitter pill of a reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 8 and
Rs 6 respectively. There are other pills as well that the government has opted to swallow. Apart from
the initial allocation of Rs 1.05 lakh crore as fertiliser subsidy in the budget, another portion of an
additional Rs 1.10 lakh crore has also been provided. Additionally, over nine crore beneficiaries of
the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will receive a subsidy of Rs 200 per cylinder up to 12 cylinders.
____________________________.
a. Of course, all of these measures will come at an economic and fiscal cost which puts the
Indian economy on the fast lane to an assured destination of higher borrowings and widened
gross fiscal deficit
b. With the petrol and diesel excise duty rate cuts, the government coffers will be absorbing an
annualised revenue loss of Rs 1 lakh crore
c. The government will end up repeating its woeful performance on accelerating disinvestment
and meeting lofty disinvestment targets
ANSWER
distinguish / differentiate - recognize or treat (someone or something) as different.
differ - be unlike or dissimilar.

(Usage - the second set of data differed from the first.)


157
cite - refer to (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or

statement, especially in a scholarly work.
adduce - cite as evidence.
site - fix or build (something) in a particular place.)
talks / negotiations / dialogues - formal discussions.)
spiral / skyrocket - show a continuous and dramatic increase.
twizzle - turn in a twisting or spinning motion.

This word isn't appropriate here.)
remark (noun) - comment.
assert (verb) - to declare or state.)
address / attend to - think about and begin to deal with (an issue or problem).
inscribe - write or carve (words or symbols) on something, especially as a formal or permanent

record.
It's not an appropriate word here.)
come to pass - to happen.
befall - to happen.
('come to befall' does not make sense.)
present / pose - to introduce.


158
face - to confront.)
there is no denying - used for saying that something is clearly true.)
10. (Answer - B. Only b
platform - an opportunity to voice one's views or initiate action.
dais - a low platform for a lectern or throne.

soapbox - a box or crate used as a makeshift stand by a public speaker.)
a and c - a person or thing that gives or acts as a guarantee.
pledge - a thing that is given as security for the fulfilment of a contract or the payment of a debt and
is liable to forfeiture in the event of failure.)
All mean - a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.)
13.(Answer - B. Only a and b
habitat / habitation - the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
habitant - a person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.)
visible / seeable - capable of being seen.
accessible - available.
It doesn't make sense here.)
All mean - plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat.)

159
brink / verge - a point at which something, typically something unwelcome, is about to happen.
median (adj) - denoting or relating to a value or quantity lying at the midpoint of a frequency
distribution of observed values or quantities, such that there is an equal probability of falling above or
below it.
All mean - make (someone) legally or morally bound to do something.)
The blank must be filled with the superlative degree of a word.
leading / pre-eminent - most important.
'important' would make the sentence correct.

If 'important' is to be used, the sentence must be like -
Yamina Saheb is an important author on the United Nations climate change panel, IPCC.)
meet / reach - touch or join.
bump into - meet someone by chance.)
assess / evaluate - to estimate.
merit - deserve or be worthy of (reward, punishment, or attention).

All mean - a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.)


160
a and b mean - torture.
abatement - moderation.)
All mean - regard favourably or with approval; welcome.)
persecution / oppression - harassment.
easement - the state or feeling of comfort or peace.)
mar / impair - to upset.
aggrandize - to enhance.)
Both mean - negligence.
'overlook' is a verb. As a noun it has a different meaning.
As a noun - a commanding position or view.)
a and b mean - commands.
orientation - the action of orienting someone or something relative to the points of a compass or
other specified positions.)
All mean - made known.)

161
a and c - very cruel and violent.
viscous - having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity.)
All mean - relating to or supporting democracy or its principles.
classless - (of a society) not divided into social classes.

Synonym - democratic.)
b and c - make (someone) nervous, worried, or irritated.
clatter - make or cause to make a continuous rattling sound.)
All mean - a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.)
All mean - (of a group of people) kill (someone) for an alleged offence without a legal trial, especially
by hanging.)
a and b mean - tired and exhausted.
insolent - lazy.
But, the word 'lazy' is already there in the above statement.
Hence, there'll be redundancy.)
a and c - the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.

162
carriage - a vehicle with four wheels that is usually pulled by horses and was used mainly in the
past.)
stockpile / lay in - to store.
mine - obtain (coal or other minerals) from a mine.)
All mean - the origin or a source of something.)
a and c - conservation.
blighting - spoiling.)
All mean - marked by refinement in taste and manners.)
The correct phrases are -
at odds / at outs / at cross purposes - in conflict or at variance.)
accused / defendant - an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
accusal - a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.)
complainant / plaintiff - a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
compliant (adj) - disposed to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree;
acquiescent.)

163
a and b - collect, levy, or bring together (money or resources).
conscript - enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services.)
All mean - refer to something as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially
in a scholarly work.)
b and c mean - problem.
panacea - solution.)
b and c mean - impact.
thump - a dull, heavy blow with a person's fist or a blunt implement.)
All mean - a thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with
interest.)
b and c mean - the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation.
airspace - the air available to aircraft to fly in, especially the part subject to the jurisdiction of a
particular country.)
All mean - successfully bring about or reach (a desired objective or result) by effort, skill, or
courage.)


164
convey / articulate - express (an idea or feeling) coherently.
corroborate - confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).

This word doesn't make sense here.)
51.(Answer - B. Only a
fair(adj) share - An equitable or reasonable portion or share of something; upright.
fair (n) - A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment; gala.)
thrust - a) The principal purpose or theme of a course of action or line of reasoning; drift.
b) A sudden or violent lunge with a pointed weapon or a bodily part; stab.)
53.(Answer - A. Only b
approach (n) - A way of dealing with a situation or problem; slant.
v - Come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity; approximate.)
viable - a) Able to be perceived or noticed easily; perceivable; seeable.
b) in a position of public prominence.)
deliver - a) Bring and hand over (a letter, parcel, or goods) to the proper recipient or address;
transport.
b) State in a formal manner; recite.)
practice - a) The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories
relating to it.

165
b) A period of time spent practising an activity or skill; rehearsal.
pursuit - The carrying out or exercise of a profession, especially that of a doctor or lawyer.)
habitat - a) The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism; haunt; terrain.
b) A person's usual or preferred surroundings.)
culture - a) The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded
collectively; humanity; civilization.
b) The cultivation of plants.)
deal - (v) - Treat (someone) in a particular way; handle.
n - The round of play following a distribution of cards.)
60. (Answer - C. Only c
involvement - a) The fact or condition of being involved with or participating in something; hand.
b) Emotional or personal association with someone; attachment.)
61.(Answer - C. Only c
make history (phrase) - Do something that is remembered in or influences the course of history.
history - The past considered as a whole; background.
chronicle - A continuous, typically chronological, record of important or public events or of a

particular trend or institution.)


166
All mean - An increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.)
speculation - a) The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence; supposition.
b) Investment in stocks, property, etc. in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.)
crew - (n) - A group of people associated in some way; squad; lot.
verb - Provide (a craft or vehicle) with a group of people to operate it.)
65.(Answer - A. Only
absolute - a) Not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
b) (of powers or rights) not subject to any limitation; unconditional; unbound.)
phase - a) A distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development;

juncture.
in phase (idiom) - Being or happening in synchrony or harmony.)
stance - a) The attitude of a person or organization towards something; a standpoint.
b) A site on a street for a market, street vendor's stall, bus stop, or taxi rank; spot.)
a and b - a) A central location in which data is stored and managed.
b) A person or thing regarded as a store of information or in which a particular quality may be found.

167
vessel - A hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid, such as a bowl or cask.)
boast (of) - possess or own. (Sentence I)
Another meaning - take pride in; gloat. (Sentence II)
pay (v) - Suffer a misfortune as a consequence of an action.
n - The money paid to someone for regular work; wage.
expend - to pay out.)
All mean - a) Bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind. (Sentence II)
b) Elicit (a response) (Sentence I)
rosy - a) (especially of a person's skin) coloured like a pink or red rose, typically as an indication of
health, youth, or embarrassment; roseate.
b) Promising or suggesting good fortune or happiness; hopeful; auspicious.)
sentiment - a) A view or opinion that is held or expressed. (Sentence I)
b) Exaggerated and self-indulgent feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia; mawkishness.)
rewrite (v) - Write (something) again so as to alter or improve it; recast; rework.
(n) - A piece of text that has been rewritten.)

168
cause - a) - A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition; root.
b) A principle, aim, or movement to which one is committed and which one is prepared to defend or
advocate; tenet.)
All mean - Create or prepare methodically.)
heel - The back part of the human foot below the ankle.
on the heels of - Following closely after.
wedge - a shoe with a fairly high heel forming a solid block with the sole.
crust - a hardened layer, coating, or deposit on the surface of something soft.)
debt - a) A sum of money that is owed or due; tally.
b) A feeling of gratitude for a service or favour.)
All mean - Make (something) continue indefinitely.)
reverse (v) - Make (something) the opposite of what it was.
adj - Operating, behaving, or ordered in a way contrary or opposite to that which is usual or
expected; converse.
converse (v) - engage in conversation.
swap - take part in an exchange of.

169
n - an act of exchanging one thing for another.)
assault - a) An act that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done.
b) A concerted attempt to do something demanding. (Sentence II)
tirade - a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.

mugging - an act of attacking and robbing someone in a public place.)
landmark - a) An event or discovery marking an important stage or turning point in something;

milestone.
b) An object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance,
especially one that enables someone to establish their location.
fence - a barrier.)
Phrases
lay siege to - Conduct a siege of (a place)
under siege - (of a place) undergoing a siege.
blockade - an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or
leaving; encirclement.)
All mean - Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common
interest; mutual support within a group.)
All mean - Guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared.)

170
argue - a) Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the
aim of persuading others to share one's view; contend. (Sentence I)
b) Exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way; squabble.
(Sentence II)
worth (n) - An amount of a commodity equivalent to a specified sum of money; value. (Sentence II)
adj - Sufficiently good, important, or interesting to be treated or regarded in the way specified.
(Sentence I)
virtue is a noun.)
vexed - a) (of a problem or issue) difficult and much debated; problematic; contested. (Sentence I)
b) Annoyed, frustrated, or worried; irate. (Sentence II)
All mean - People employed in an organization or engaged in an organized undertaking such as

military service.
personnel is a plural noun.
staff is a singular as well as a plural noun.)
subjected - a) (subject someone/something toCause or force someone or something to undergo (a

particular experience or form of treatment, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one); put through.
b) Bring (a person or country) under one's control or jurisdiction, typically by using force.
construe - interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.)

171
All mean - A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.)
propel - a) Drive or push something forwards. (Sentence II)
b) Spur or drive into a particular situation; push forwards; hurl. (Sentence I)
All mean - Cruel and oppressive government or rule.)
launch - a) Start or set in motion an activity; instigate.)
b) Hurl (something) forcefully; toss. (Sentence II)
sustain - a) Undergo or suffer (something unpleasant, especially an injury); ensure.
b) Uphold, affirm, or confirm the justice or validity of; vindicate.)
head (v) - a) Be in charge of. (Sentence I)
b) Give a title or caption to. (Sentence II)
All mean - a) A person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated
with another.
b) A member of a learned society.)
All mean - a) Prevent or constrain (an activity or idea) (Sentence II)
b) Restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion) (Sentence I)


172
giggle - a light, silly laugh.)
All these words are verbs as well as nouns.
Noun - A half-suppressed, typically scornful laugh.
Verb - Laugh in a half-suppressed, typically scornful way.)
interim - (n) - The intervening time; interval.
adj - In or for the intervening period; provisional; temporary; makeshift.)
101.(Answer - A. of, across, in)
102.(Answer - B. over, of, with
reckon with - deal with or cope with.)
103.(Answer - A. away, with, to
get away with sth - to do something successfully although it is not the best way of doing it.)
match (v) - Be equal to (something) in quality or strength.
(n) - A person or thing that resembles or corresponds to another.
counterpart (n) - A person or thing that is equal to another in quality or strength; peer(verb).
hurt here is a noun in statement I. And hurt is an adjective in statement II.

wounding is a noun.
wound can never be an adjective.)

173
debt - i) A sum of money that is owed or due.

ii) A feeling of gratitude for a service or favour.
tally - A current score or amount.

tab - a bill.)
hearing - an opportunity to state your case.
The author has mentioned 'draconian media rules'.

draconian - excessively harsh and severe.
That means he's criticizing the government.
b - Incorrect. The phrase 'responsibly censor' is contradictory. It's positive about the
government.
c - Incorrect. It's contradictory. If all news media aee affected by the emergency powers, then
they'll not be able to self-regulate.)
The author has clearly said that publishing delays are not implicitly wrong.
That means, it is better to take the time and publish a good paper than to publish a bad paper
in a hurry.
c - Incorrect. It's contradicting the statement - publishing delays are not implicitly wrong.
hold up - to delay.
implicitly - completely.)
A pandemic and an epidemic are shifting beasts.

That means their patterns and threats are unpredictable and absolutely impossible to
estimate completely accurately.
Hence, b and c are correct.

174
in the balance - in an uncertain and unpredictable state.
par for the course - expected.)
The media - The Time - is talking about themselves in a positive and fearless manner.
As the statement starts with 'But', there must be a phrase which will present the media in a
positive and fearless manner.
Hence, all three options are correct.)
trod on someone’s toes - to upset someone, esp. by getting involved in something that is that
person’s responsibility.)
The author is heavily criticising The government and the media houses which have willingly
bought into this project to be co-opted and used to boost the government's own image.
So, all three statements justify the author's tone.)
a and b are absolutely correct contextually.

More coal production - more coal to meet the growing demand for power
And, sufficient coal to meet the current need to generate peak thermal power.
c - Incorrect. This is absolutely meaningless.)
Rising temperatures were having a pernicious effect on water security and agriculture in the
region.
All three statements are indicative of the fact above.
replace paddy with maize - Maize is a better option than paddy from the point of view of water
requirement.
fast-shrinking water - water being dried up fast.)


175
The context is - The CoR of the (five) NBFCs have been cancelled on account of violation of
RBI guidelines on outsourcing and Fair Practices Code in their digital lending operations
undertaken through third party apps which was considered detrimental to public interest.
Hence the statements in the blank must criticise the actions of the NBFCs.
Therefore, a and b are correct.
c - Incorrect.
veritable - authentic.
Hence, this is an absolutely contradictory statement.)
Scant attention has been paid to the possibility of expanding Nepal’s exports, either through
value addition or through policy reforms.
That means, Nepal is not paying much attention to the possibility of expanding Nepal’s
exports, either through value addition or through policy reforms.
Exporting materials such as rudraksha seeds and yarsagumba (a caterpillar-fungus fusion

with medicinal properties) in their raw form means not much attention is being given.
Hence, a and b are perfectly correct.
c - Incorrect. It's contradictory. If Nepal is not paying much attention to the possibility of
expanding Nepal’s exports, Nepali exporters CANNOT dominate and set the prices because
they DON'T offer higher transfer abroad.)
Statements a and b are correctly justifying all the facts mentioned in the above paragraph.
And, also the tone of the author toward the government is critical.
So, a and b are absolutely right.
c - Incorrect. It's out of context. Disinvestment hasn’t been mentioned in the paragraph.)

176
5. CHAPTER - IDIOMS
Directions(1-50): Identify the simpler phrase(s) that is/are similar in meaning to the IDIOM in
bold. If none of the options convey the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer. The
options do not necessarily need to be grammatically correct.
1. I have no idea why I'm on Sharat's hit list all of a sudden—I haven't done anything wrong!
A. A list of people who are the subject of one's anger

B. A list of one's enemies
C. A list of people one will ignore
D. Both A and B
2. I'm not surprised that he got beat up after punching his enemy—blood will have blood, after all.
A. Every action will have consequences

B. Violent acts will be followed by more violent acts
C. There is no limit to getting justice
D. One has to suffer the consequences
3. When my father joined my mother in scolding me, I felt like I was caught between two fires.
A. Between two sources of conflict

B. Between two unexpected enemies
C. Between two sources of loud noises
D. Both A and B
4. I need to start going two-forty through this project if I want to have it done by the deadline.

177
A. Working with high alertness

B. Being very energetic
C. Moving very quickly
D. Being very sincere and honest
5. My two daughters are chalk and cheese these days—one loves singing and the other loves
dancing.
A. Very moody
B. Very different from one another
C. Very inconsistent with feelings
D. Very particular about likes and dislikes
6. When I was a beginner as an actor, I was constantly riding two horses at once, taking on as
many cinemas as I could, even if they overlapped.
A. Doing many things partially

B. In various doubts
C. Doing many things half-heartedly
D. Doing two or more things simultaneously
7. "I can't believe their little boy died of heart attack." B: "I know, it's really awful. That's just the way
it plays sometimes."
A. People will always suffer

B. This is just the normal way things happen
C. There is nothing we can do to change or prevent the way things will unfold
D. Both B and C
8. So, is this the circuit I need to rewire?" B: "Yep, that's the bunny."
A. You've understood that correctly

B. That can be a possibility
C. That is the correct thing I am referring to
D. That's the thing we can consider

178
9. OK, that tears it, I'm calling the police—it's 2 AM and that party is still blasting music.
A. Here it happens again

B. that's enough
C. Let's ignore it
D. Let's go out
10. The weak link in computer security is almost always the end user.
A. The most obvious sufferer

B. The remotest member
C. Someone considered inferior to the other parts of a group
D. Someone considered to be spoiling the entire mechanism
11. This waiter is really a cut below what I would expect from this restaurant.
A. A very arrogant person

B. A very insincere person
C. A person of moderate skills
D. Both A and B
12. He never came, so his promise to help us was a crock of shit!
A. Something that is false

B. Something that's unexpected
C. Something that's rude
D. Something that's terribly unnecessary
13. When her husband passed away, she was left with a cross to bear having to raise three children
on her own.
A. Only one option

B. A difficult reality

179
C. A difficult responsibility
D. An Utter misery
14. The team's championship victory was bittersweet, coming hard on the heels of their coach's
untimely retirement.
A. Occurring immediately after something

B. As a result of
C. Occurred at an unexpected time
D. Both A and B
15. I know things are hard when you're looking for work, but everything will come good, I promise.
A. have an agreeable outcome

B. have an acceptable result
C. have a successful outcome
D. All A, B and C
16. The coach really gave me a bad time when I missed that catch last night.
A. Made me go through rigorous exercise routine

B. Teased and criticized me
C. Made me accept my mistakes forcibly
D. Both A and C
17. He spent the whole meeting ripping on our ideas instead of coming up with anything
productive.
A. Making fun of our ideas

B. Stealing important points from our ideas
C. Imitating our ideas in implementing his ideas
D. Listening to our ideas throughly
18. I had my fill of riotous living during my college years.


180
A. A lifestyle that's absolutely fake

B. A lifestyle full of illegal habits
C. A lifestyle that's amazingly awesome
D. A lifestyle that is particularly wild
19. I'm sorry, we had a run on the chocolate cheesecake this afternoon, so I'm afraid we're out.
A. A large demand
B. A sudden demand
C. A widespread demand
D. All A, B and C
20. One thing you have to understand is that freedom of speech is one of the sacred cows of
American culture and politics.
A. Basic rights
B. Constitutional provisions
C. Something that is considered immune to negative criticism
D. Both A and B
21. Based on his grades, it's a safe bet that Nitin won't be able to graduate on time.
A. Something that's going to give you a huge profit

B. Something that is certain to occur
C. Something that'll yield a lot of money
D. Both A and C
22. Ugh, my mom is on my back all the time about my grades, but I just have no interest in the
classes I'm taking this semester.
A. To be constantly nagging one about something

B. To be constantly supporting
C. To be continuously complaining one about something
D. Both A and C

181
23. Can you watch the kids while I go get groceries? They're too much of a drag on me in the
supermarket.
A. To be extremely burdensome to one

B. To be extremely loveable to one
C. To be highly tedious to one
D. Both A and C
24. Please tell me this isn't going to be a thing between us. Can we just forget about it?
A. A complicated situation
B. A romantic relationship
C. A very emotional bond
D. An unforgettable time
25. She never hears what I’m saying to her — the silly old bat.
A. A very rude person

B. A very inattentive old person
C. An annoying old person
D. Both B and C
26. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better guy than Sumit.
A. Lucky enough
B. Immensely insulted
C. Struggling to accomplish something
D. Highly disappointed
27. Disha was rather nervous taking her final exam, but she came off with flying colors!
A. Passed the exam exceptionally well


182
B. Miserably failed
C. Passed the exam somehow
D. Surprised everyone
28. I might be considered a rivet counter by others, but I'm particularly proud of the level of detail
that goes into my model sets.
A. Unreasonable
B. Excessively arrogant
C. Overly strict
D. Very much fault-finding in nature
29. I'm sure it's exciting, but I'd rather not risk my neck just for a bit of an adrenaline rush.
A. Do something that might cause severe injury

B. Do something that might cause death
C. Test my luck
D. Both A and B
30. After pointing out her mistake on the first day of class, I was in bad with my teacher for the rest
of the semester.
A. Disliked by
B. In high level of rivalry
C. In trouble with
D. Both A and C
31. It was a beautiful day, and the birds were out in droves.
A. Chirping all day

B. Looking beautiful together
C. Appearing in large numbers
D. Flying very high

183
32. They are planning their marriage anniversary at full pelt. I hope they don't forget any major
details.
A. With full excitement

B. With full joy and fun
C. With some amount of anxiety
D. As fast as possible
33. Ritesh used his position of class president as a bully pulpit to raise awareness about child
marriage.
A. A public position that allows a person to speak with authority

B. A public position that allows a person to share their views with a large audience
C. A public position that allows a person to exercise unreasonable powers
D. Both A and B
34. Can we go out to dinner next week? I'm just brassic lint right now.
A. Having little to no money

B. Not in a mood to hang out
C. Very busy with work
D. Very tired
35. After trying to bag these guys for months, we were finally able to bring them into the station
tonight.
A. Convince these guys

B. Arrest these guys
C. Find these guys
D. Contact these guys
36. You're really disturbing me now, so bag your face!
A. Keep your mouth shut


184
B. Sit quietly
C. Cooperate with me
D. Go away and leave me alone
37. Will you separate those two? They've been arguing like ferrets in a bag this whole time!
A. In a turbulent manner
B. On a serious topic
C. In a tumultuous manner
D. Both A and C
38. I know you want to avoid confrontation, but it's not kosher to break up with someone by text
message.
A. It isn't fair
B. It's not sportsmanlike
C. It's not legitimate
D. All A, B and C
39. The newly elected congresswoman broke a lance with the House of Representatives today on
the issue of discrimination in business.
A. Engaged in a confrontation
B. Broke all ties
C. Betrayed
D. Both B and C
40. Our newspaper broke the story of the minister's scandal, and now every national news outlet is
covering it!
A. Carefully framed an issue

B. Promoted an issue dishonestly
C. Was the first to publicize an issue
D. Both A and B

185
41. Companies are increasingly relying on word of mouse to promote their products to people
around the world.
A. Meeting people personally

B. Misleading advertisements
C. Spreading of information through online means
D. A third-party
42. My grandfather was sweet as pie and everyone was so fond of him!
A. Very funny and hilarious

B. Very friendly
C. Very kind
D. Both B and C
43. The accident expenses came right on top of the costs of her illness.
A. Happened immediately after

B. Were expected after
C. Happened immediately before
D. Came as a surprise to
44. They may not have broken the law themselves, but the CEOs certainly sat on their hands and
allowed these illegal activities to happen unchecked.
A. Refrained from acting

B. Refrained from intervening
C. Took bribe
D. Both A and B

186
45. Hey, Earth to Rohan! Did you hear anything I just said?
A. A phrase used when one is scolding someone

B. A phrase used when one is trying to get someone else's attention
C. A phrase used when one is being angry with someone
D. Both A and C
46. I think I'll earn some brownie points with my mom if I get her work done.
A. Praises and appreciations

B. Beautiful gifts
C. Expensive gifts
D. Level of trust
47. When my friends split up, I felt like I had a foot in both camps.
A. Had to be biased towards some people

B. Had some involvement with or support for two opposing sides
C. Had to make the final choice
D. Both A and C
48. This plan you have is a forlorn hope and will never work out the way you want.
A. An absolutely impractical idea

B. Beyond everyone's understanding
C. An undertaking unlikely to succeed
D. A plan bound to fail
49. Oh boy, we're in the crunch now—only one hour left to finish up our presentation!
A. In great trouble
B. At a critical period of time

187
C. About to fail
D. Both A and C
50. Here's the crux of the issue; we feel like our performance has really been terrible.
A. The serious problem

B. The source of controversy
C. The summary of an issue
D. The most important essence or elements
Type - Idiom Meaning Derivation
Directions(51-70): Identify the words that are similar in meaning to the phrase/idiom in bold. If
none of the options convey the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer. The options do not
necessarily need to be grammatically correct.
51. Did you hear that Kelly got promoted to senior analyst? She's a big wheel now.
A. A very arrogant person

B. A very authoritative person
C. A very rich person
D. A very inspiring personality
52. You had your chance trying to break the piñata, now let your sister have a crack at it.
A. take a turn trying (to do) something

B. to attempt (to do) something
C. to get the taste of failure
D. Both A and B
53. John's usually quite reticent around other people, but he becomes the life of the party after he's
had a couple.

188
A. had met his close friends

B. had multiple alcoholic drinks
C. had a couple of cigarettes
D. Both B and C
54. At my age I can't go out drinking all night long anymore, but I still like to catch a buzz on the
weekend.
A. be mildly drunk
B. have some fun
C. meet new people
D. gossip with friends
55. Now take your time while writing these test essays—you don't want a few lapses of the pen to
be the reason you get a lower grade!
A. severe misunderstandings
B. unintentional mistakes
C. deliberate negligence
D. forgotten items
56. My aunt is an avid traveler, so the lares and penates of her home have been collected from
around the world.
A. items that constitute a part of one's home

B. design ideas
C. decoration ideas
D. Both B and C
57. They were completely dominating the game until the quarterback slipped on a banana peel and
threw an interception, which allowed the momentum to shift in the opposing team's favor.
A. went out of control

B. got into an argument
C. got severely injured
D. made a silly mistake

189
58. The jurors didn't believe that Mike actually murdered the victim. They felt that he was set up by
his brother as a fall guy.
A. someone who takes the consequences for someone else

B. someone who's very silly
C. someone who's very gullible
D. someone who's actually guilty
59. Ever since Georgina started managing the restaurant at night, she and I have been like ships
that pass in the night.
A. not be in the same place and at the same time

B. not seeing very much of each other
C. working together rigorously
D. Both A and B
60. It's been a dog's age since I worked on one of these machines, but I'll give it a shot!
A. an exceptionally long period of time

B. a short period of time
C. a decade
D. a span of a few months
61. I was doing fine in the marathon, but it was a bit against the collar for the last couple miles.
A. inappropriate
B. exhausting and difficult
C. full of injuries
D. short of time
62. Sarah was so nervous on her first day of high school that she burst into tears after walking into
the wrong classroom. Her classmates looked at her like she was a basket case.

190
A. oddly fit
B. full of stupidity
C. emotionally unstable
D. unable to function in normal situations
E. Both C and D
63. His bizarre decision to sell off all his stakes in the firm he helped create has many wondering if
he hasn't popped his cork.
A. had a nervous breakdown

B. had gone completely bankrupt
C. had different and better plans
D. had become infuriated
64. Your mum's having a lie-in this morning, so we need to be extra quiet downstairs.
A. meditating on her bed

B. spending a prolonged amount of time in her bed
C. having her bed tea
D. listening to her favorite songs
65. I've been having these sharp pains in my abdomen, Doc." B: "It's probably nothing serious, but
let me have a look-see."
A. have a very quick look

B. have a brief examination
C. check thoroughly
D. Both A and B
66. I can't stand Terry's new husband—he has such a loud mouth when he drinks!
A. have a habit of speaking incessantly

B. have a tendency of speaking indiscreetly
C. have a habit of speaking in a noisy, boastful manner
D. All A, B and C

191
67. Allowing your children to play with fireworks is a mug's game. They are bound to get injured.
A. an impractical idea
B. a stupid and dangerous activity
C. an inevitable disaster
D. Both B and C
68. I think it's a roll of the dice to invest in that company right now. I would hold off until things get a
bit more stable in the financial markets.
A. An uncertain action
B. An especially risky action undertaken
C. A very stupid decision
D. Both A and B
69. There have been a lot of closed-door meetings recently to discuss the sale of the company.
A. concealed
B. very significant
C. repetitive
D. infrequent and sporadic
70. When I was just out of college, I had a job on the knocker for a mobile phone provider to get
people to switch their plans.
A. sales job
B. done primarily
C. done as part-time job
D. going door to door

192
ANSWER
1.(Answer - D. Both A and B)
2.(Answer - B. Violent acts will be followed by more violent acts)
3.(Answer - A. Between two sources of conflict)
4.(Answer - C. Moving very quickly)
5.(Answer - B. Very different from one another)
6.(Answer - D. Doing two or more things simultaneously)
7.(Answer - D. Both B and C)
8.(Answer - C. That is the correct thing I am referring to)
9.(Answer - B. that's enough)
10.(Answer - C. Someone considered inferior to the other parts of a group)
11.(Answer - E. None of the above options
A cut below - Of lower quality than or inferior to someone or something else, especially that of the
expected norm.)
12.(Answer - A. Something that is false)
13.(Answer - C. A difficult responsibility)
14.(Answer - A. Occurring immediately after something)
15.(Answer - D. All A, B and C)
16.(Answer - B. Teased and criticized me)
17.(Answer - A. Making fun of our ideas)


193
18.(Answer - D. A lifestyle that is particularly wild)
20.(Answer - C. Something that is considered immune to negative criticism)
21.(Answer - B. Something that is certain to occur)
22.(Answer - D. Both A and C
nag - to complain or harass.)
23.(Answer - D. Both A and C
tedious - tiresome.)
24.(Answer - A. A complicated situation)
25.(Answer - C. An annoying old person)
26.(Answer - C. Struggling to accomplish something)
27.(Answer - A. Passed the exam exceptionally well)
rivet counter - Someone who demands an exceptionally or unreasonably high level of minute detail
or accuracy in something.)
30.(Answer - D. Both A and C)
31.(Answer - C. Appearing in large numbers)
32.(Answer - D. As fast as possible)
34.(Answer - A. Having little to no money)
35.(Answer - B. Arrest these guys)


194
36.(Answer - D. Go away and leave me alone)
39.(Answer - A. Engaged in a confrontation)
40. (Answer - C. Was the first to publicize an issue)
41.(Answer - C. Spreading of information through online means)
42.(Answer - D. Both B and C)
43.(Answer - A. Happened immediately after)
45.(Answer - B. A phrase used when one is trying to get someone else's attention)
46.(Answer - A. Praises and appreciations)
47.(Answer - B. Had some involvement with or support for two opposing sides)
48.(Answer - C. An undertaking unlikely to succeed)
49.(Answer - B. At a critical period of time)
50. (Answer - D. The most important essence or elements)
51.(Answer - B. A very authoritative person
authoritative - influential.)
53.(Answer - B. had multiple alcoholic drinks)
54.(Answer - A. be mildly drunk)
55.(Answer - B. unintentional mistakes)


195
56.(Answer - A. items that constitute a part of one's home)

57.(Answer - D. made a silly mistake)
58.(Answer - A. someone who takes the consequences for someone else)
60.(Answer - A. an exceptionally long period of time)
61.(Answer - B. exhausting and difficult)
62.(Answer - E. Both C and D)
63.(Answer - A. had a nervous breakdown)
64.(Answer - B. spending a prolonged amount of time in her bed)

66.(Answer - D. All A, B and C
incessantly - continuously.
indiscreetly - in a way not having or showing good judgment.)
67.(Answer - D. Both B and C
a mug's game - a task or activity that is foolish, dangerous, or will not result in a positive outcome.)
69.(Answer - A. concealed
concealed - secret.)
70. (Answer - D. going door to door)

196
6. CHAPTER - MISCELLANEOUS PATTERN

Directions(1-2): In each of the questions given below, three words are given in bold. These
three words may or may not be in their correct positions. Find the correct placement of words
in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. If all the words are
placed correctly, select ‘E’ as your option.
1. By turning climate talks into a means of fostering global (a)bridges, influential nations could build
valuable (b)exchange to facilitate cultural, social and economic (c)partnerships alongside
mitigating climate disaster.
A. bac
B. cab
C. cba
D. acb
2. Several states have promised to vaccinate their citizens for free but there is (a)disposal whether
they would have sufficient (b)concern of doses at their (c)amounts.
A. bca
B. acb
C. cab
D. bac
Direction(3-6): Below is a sentence, formed with an idiom or a phrase defining it. The
sentence is then followed by a question which must be answered considering the way the
idiom/phrase defined the sentence.

197
3. Although we both agreed to divorce, my husband is splitting hairs about our settlement.
What's the husband doing about/over the settlement?
A. feeling sorry
B. arguing
C. screaming loudly
D. threatening
4. It's been a great evening, but I'm ready to hit the hay.
What am I ready to do?
A. to return to my residence
B. to announce something very important
C. to go to bed in order to sleep
D. to have the dinner
5. Since they got married, they've been in seventh heaven.
How/what have they been?
A. travelling a lot
B. spending some quality time
C. arguing over silly matters
D. dreaming unrealistically
6. His youngest daughter was the apple of his eye.
Describe his attitude towards his youngest daughter.
A. he loved his youngest daughter the most

B. he was very proud of his youngest daughter
C. he was too much lenient with his youngest daughter
D. Both A and B

198
Directions(7-9): In the paragraph below there are five sentences. In each sentence there are
pairs of highlighted words (A, B). Select the most appropriate words to form correct
sentences. Then, from the options given, select the correct sequence.
7. The other day, I was waiting at a (A)hitherto (B)later unknown place for my daughter to finish her
lessons. As I waited at a tea stall, I saw a (A)clump (B)clamp of moss growing out of the crack of an
(A)ageing (B)aged wall.
A. AAA
B. BBB
C. ABA
D. BAB
8. Looking at the delicate moss, it (A)stuck (B)struck me that one is not supposed to unduly spare
any thoughts on survival (A)till (B)since one’s tenure on earth is sentenced to end anyway, but to
grow (A)wherever (B)however planted, seeking silently the purpose of one’s existence.
A. BAA
B. BBB
C. ABA
D. BBA
9. There are certain books which when you put them (A)up (B)down keep you absolutely still for a
while. Apart from making you acutely aware of an (A)altered (B)alternate reality, they never fail to
produce a flash of insight, a spark of intuition that would not occur to you (A)otherwise (B)anyway.
A. BAB
B. BBA
C. ABB
D. AAB
Direction: Five statements are given below, which are jumbled in any random order. These
statements will form a coherent and meaningful paragraph, when arranged in the correct
sequence. Arrange the sentences in the right order and answer the questions that follow.
(a) Another point he makes equally strongly is that for good education, one must lead the child’s
current interests and abilities organically to logically organised human knowledge.

199
(b) The COVID-19 pandemic has rendered it even more extremely biased and faulty.
(c) From an educational point of view, John Dewey, American philosopher, psychologist and
educational reformer, strongly argued that “An environment in which some are limited will always in
reaction create conditions that prevent the full development even of those who fancy they enjoy
complete freedom for unhindered growth.”
(d) This second point is an indicator of the quality of education.
(e) Our education system was never very efficient even in the best of times.
10. Which of the following pairs is the pair of the antepenultimate and the maiden statement
respectively, after the correct rearrangement?
A. e c
B. b a
C. d c
D. d a
Direction(11-12): Select the most appropriate option to substitute the emboldened segment in
the given sentence. If no substitution is required, select 'No correction required' as your
option.
11. Three years have passed since world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development with 169 targets that must reach to transform the planet.
A. should reach
B. must be reached
C. must act
D. ought to reach
E. No correction required
12. It would be shocking if the major intelligence agencies do not apply the analytic present as of
date to make sense of possible threats to national security.
A. do not use the analytic available

B. do apply the analysis present
C. do not use the analytics available
D. do not bother about analysing

200
E. No correction required
Directions(13-14): A word given in bold is followed by I, II and III, each of which consists of
two sentences. You need to identify the options where the given word can be used as a
connector to combine the two statements into a single one while maintaining the meaning
and coherence of the sentence.
13. hence
a. The inaccuracies stimulate a lot of class discussion. They facilitate a lot of learning.
b. We'll buy you some shorts at the weekend. You'll just have to wear your long trousers.
c. She won't mind if you're late. It's hardly your fault.
A. Only a
B. Both a and b
C. Only c
D. Both b and c
E. Both a and c
14. eventually
a. It was a bitter blow they did not need. It led to their ninth home defeat of the campaign.
b. She is learning to be a hairdresser. She would like to go to university.
c. I was brought up to be polite. I have tried to teach my own children good manners.
A. Both b and c
B. Only b
C. Both a and b
D. All a, b and c
E. Only a
Direction(15-17): In the question below, a sentence is given. From the options given, choose
the one that conveys the same meaning as that of the given sentence.
15. India needs vaccine distribution plans that prioritise beneficiaries

201
a. A combination of free vaccination along with a reduction in costs through bulk purchases can
cover a substantial section of the population.
b. Given the differences in the distribution infrastructure needed, India needs more than one
vaccine and multiple pathways to access them.
c. Covid-19 levels differences; everyone is potentially a spreader, therefore, it makes sense to

prepare for both a free vaccination drive as well as one that is market linked.
16. Moral policing of OTT content will kill a vibrant and diverse new industry
a. It will be impossible to create art or any creative content if the makers try to please everyone.
b. Strict regulations will help curb the obscenity and inflammatory content that OTT platforms
make available unobstructed.
c. If the government starts defining the idea of entertainment for each individual, the citizens of
the largest democracy in the world will be left with minimal to choose from.
17. Yoga has a universal appeal and a global outlook
a. From Vladivostok in the east to Vancouver in the west, from Cape Town in the south to
Copenhagen in the north, people across the world have adopted yoga for its therapeutic
potential.
b. From addressing specific ailments to preventative benefits and overall mental well-being,
yoga is now being acknowledged as a practice that helps individuals of its origin country cope
with the pressures of the 21st century.
c. Fifty days from now, on June 21, the world will be celebrating the 8th International Day of
Yoga.
18. The CRS report provides a holistic estimate of overall mortality.

202
a. The CRS report would include natural deaths in the elderly, deaths due to TB infection,
cancer, accidents, other systemic diseases, and so on and the count includes maternal,
infant and child deaths.
b. The CRS Reports estimate a total of 81,15,882 deaths in 2020 and in 2019, the number of
registered deaths was 76,41,076 deaths.
c. It is possible that some additional deaths due to Covid-19 might not have been recorded in
this system, but the CRS report ensures that deaths from all causes are taken note of.
19. Educated women exercise agency.
a. Learned women actively engage in voluntary and paid activities including teaching, home-
based marketing, consulting, tutoring etc.
b. Literate women’s workplaces are driving them out of full-time jobs, while the pandemic years
have only made things worse in terms of burnout and work/life balance.
c. Educated women respond reluctantly when asked if they are willing to work part-time.
20. The MTP (Amendment) Act, 2021 seems absolutely mindful of a woman’s right to bodily
autonomy and privacy.
a. The act makes the right to abortion, and, by extension, to her body, individuality and life,
limited and hemmed in.
b. The act includes the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies caused by contraceptive
failure, regardless of the woman’s marital status.
c. According to the act abortion remains a criminal offence under Section 312.

21. Theme - Explosion of Gang Violence

203
a. In the 1980s, Mexico’s crime groups and drug traffickers became organized, assigning
distinct regional areas of control for each group and establishing networks and trafficking
routes; however, as production and distribution increased, the groups began fighting for
territorial control and access to markets, leading to an increase in violence across Mexico.
b. The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered after an apparent gun battle between
suspected drug cartels in Zacatecas state in northern Mexico, authorities said on Friday.
c. Dozens of people have been detained and arrested over the mob lynching, which happened
on Saturday evening in Khanewal district of Punjab province, according to Tahir Ashrafi, the
prime minister’s special representative on religious harmony; law enforcement agencies are
also monitoring hundreds of other suspects, he said.
22. Theme - Religious Sentiment
a. Section 295A does not penalise any and every act of insult or an attempt to insult the religion
or the religious beliefs but it penalises only those acts of insults or attempts which have been
perpetrated with the deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of a
particular class.
b. The world’s religions are similar in many ways; scholar Stephen Prothero refers to these
similarities as “family resemblances.” All religions include rituals, scriptures, and sacred days
and gathering places. Each religion gives its followers instructions for how human beings
should act toward one another.
c. Although our natural tendency might be to see religious offence as welling up from some
interior core of personal conviction, we could point to factors such as politics, socialization, or
the media environment that contribute to, even manufacture, the religious emotions on
display. That insight calls into question the idea that these feelings of outrage are natural
reactions to a prior offence or insult.
23. Theme - Public Nuisance
a. The felling of the more than a decade-old jackfruit tree had created quite a stir after traders
who have been tending to trees along the road belonging to the GCDA staged a vociferous
protest and locked horns with GCDA officials and the workers engaged by the contractor. As
a result the road was blocked for hours.
b. Kids can’t ride in the street with their bikes now because of individuals that are lawless. Our
communities are for families, not for these lawless individuals who could care less, and have

204
no regard for life. Hence, anyone caught reckless driving will be subject to “enjoinment and
abatement as provided under state and local law.
c. Sam’s neighbor has a large dog that barks excessively through the night. The barking
happens every night, and lasts for at least ten minutes straight, waking Sam’s toddler.
Additionally, the dog lunges up towards the short fence dividing their properties and barks
viciously each time someone walks near the fence. Sam, files a nuisance case against his
neighbor for the noise as well as the threat of injury from the vicious dog.
24. Communal peace will remain a distant dream until all hands are on the deck.
a. Even if some members of one community provoke the other community, they should try to
restrain themselves and not fall in the trap.
b. People of different communities and religions can only live in consonance if all of them are
deferential to each other.
c. Many people get hurt or even lose their life when communal riots take place; property is
destroyed, livelihoods are lost and the bitterness created lasts for years.
25. The gaps in learning are not even among social constituencies.
a. A survey conducted by the National Coalition on the Education Emergency, between October
2021 and January 2022, has found on the basis of parents’ opinion that the learning gap has
widened between children from affluent families and those from lower socio-economic
backgrounds.
b. The report, Cries of Anguish surveyed 512 households — 100 from Karnataka, 212 from
Telangana and 200 from Tamil Nadu — mostly from the underprivileged sections of society;
only 24% parents in Telangana and 4% each in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were employed in
the formal sector.
c. Many studies concluded that technology-driven education — online learning — can only help
those who can depend on parental guidance.

205
26. A study of different religious cultures has its own value.
a. The Vedic materials should be accompanied by lessons in the culture and belief of other
religions, since India is home to so many — from Islam and Christianity to Judaism and
Zoroastrianism.
b. The country’s plan now, apparently, is to introduce material from all the religions in texts and
there is nothing wrong with the study of texts which are culturally, linguistically and historically
invaluable.
c. The government has rightly dropped chapters on Jewish empires in Africa and Asia, on
Buddhist rule in South Africa and on democracy and diversity from different text books for
schools.
From each statement, there is one question. Answer the questions correctly.
(a) Plastic also contributes to about 4.5% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions; aditionally,
plastic pollution adversely affects livelihoods in the coastal regions; there is reason to believe that
microplastics can seriously affect the human health as well.
(b) But such solutions still need time to become scalable and commercially viable.
(c) The hazards of plastic pollution are manifold; only about nine per cent of plastic ever created has
been recycled.
(d) The resolution aims to create a pact, with legally binding mechanisms applicable to all
signatories, that will address the entire life-cycle of plastic — from manufacturing to disposal.
(e) Hearteningly, some innovative ways of tackling plastic waste have been tried in the country.
(f) Recently, at the United Nations Environment Programme’s fifth Environment Assembly, 175
countries ________ a resolution to _______ an internationally binding agreement towards _______
plastic pollution by 2024.

206
(g) The rest has been accumulating in the world’s oceans causing irreparable damage to marine
ecosystems, _____________________________.
(a) Plastic also contributes to about 4.5% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions; aditionally,
plastic pollution adversely affects livelihoods in the coastal regions; there is reason to believe that
microplastics can seriously affect the human health as well.
27. Which of the following IDIOMS can be used to describe the effects of plastic?
a. touch-and-go
b. a place in the sun
c. ill-starred
(b) But such solutions still need time to become scalable and commercially viable.
28. How should the solutions be? Explain more elaborately. The answer should be precise
and absolutely according to the above statement.
a. They should have the ability to compete effectively and to make a profit.
b. They should be able to grow or be made larger.
c. They should able to continue over a period of time.
(c) The hazards of plastic pollution are manifold; only about nine per cent of plastic ever created has
been recycled.
29. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the above statement?
a. Mass production of plastics, which began just six decades ago, has accelerated so rapidly
that it has created 8.3 billion metric tons.
b. The vast majority of plastic is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural
environment as litter, meaning: at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans, the final sink.

207
c. Plastic can pollute the soil and contaminate water with harmful chemicals; also skeletal
defects, DNA damage and such in Zebrafish embryos that were exposed to river water
contaminated with microplastics have been recorded.
(d) The resolution aims to create a pact, with legally binding mechanisms applicable to all
signatories, that will address the entire life-cycle of plastic — from manufacturing to disposal.
30. Which of the following IDIOMS can be used to describe the pact, as expressed in the
above statement?
a. across the board

b. coast-to-coast
c. wall-to-wall
A. Only a and c B. Only b and c C. Only a D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
(e) Hearteningly, some innovative ways of tackling plastic waste have been tried in the country.
31. Which of the following statements can justify the above statement?
a. Plastic has been used to make roads and bricks that are more durable than the material used
at present.
b. Recycled plastic has been used to make clothes, especially sportswear.
c. The plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (Pet) transformed the beverage
industry by its various designs and it changed our habits in many ways.
(f) Recently, at the United Nations Environment Programme’s fifth Environment Assembly, 175
countries ________ a resolution to _______ an internationally binding agreement towards _______
plastic pollution by 2024.
32. Which of the following combinations of PHRASAL VERBS can most appropriately fit in the
a. took on, build up, doing away with

b. swept up, put together, wiping out

208
c. took over, work up, winding up
(g) The rest has been accumulating in the world’s oceans causing irreparable damage to marine
ecosystems, _____________________________.
33. Which of the following phrases can most appropriately fit in the blank in the above
statement?
a. choking and polluting brooks

b. piling up in extensive landfills
c. entering the human bloodstream

A. f c g
B. d g a
C. g a e
D. c a b
Direction(35-38): Each question has three sets of statements. Each set contains a pair of
sentences wherein the first statement consists of an idiom/phrase while the second
statement talks about a situation which may or may not depict the meaning of the
idiom/phrase. You are required to select the pairs which correctly show the meaning of the
idioms in the second statement.
35. M.
I. This project has been a massive undertaking, but I've answered the bell by staying late
every night this week, and things are progressing nicely.
II. At a moment like that, we don't worry about anything else other than accomplishing our
specific mission.
N.

209
I. I was considering signing your petition, but your foot-in-the-door methods have made me
change my mind.
II. No doubt she managed to do it being seeming pushy or persuasive.
O.
I. You're on a fool's errand if you think you can convince the boss to give you more time off.
II. There is also evidence that consumption of organically produced food is beneficial to human
health.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O E. None of M, N and
O
36. M.
I. You know he won't pay you on time, so agreeing to any contract with him is a fool's bargain.
II. The trade agreement between China and Taiwan will only benefit China in the long run.
N.
I. He expects everyone around him to kiss his ring, but I refuse to acknowledge his authority.
II. She was flattering him in order to avoid doing what he wanted.
O.
I. Creating a business to export olive oil to Italy is like sending owls to Athens!
II. Although residents put up pockets of resistance, their attempts were largely futile.
O
37. M.
I. I'm sure the boss is going to call me to account for my outburst during the meeting.
II. On another occasion, he was punished for singing.
N.
I. I got the short straw when it came to cleaning up after our shift last night.
II. Jim was chosen from a number of people to perform a task or duty that nobody else wants to
do: he had to drive forty miles to the airport at midnight to pick up Elizabeth.
O.
I. You have to stay calm during business negotiations or else you may end up getting the short
end of the stick.
II. It was a social relationship characterized by an unequal distribution of power and resources.
O

210
38. M.
I. I hate being in New York during Christmas—everyone just getting loaded to the barrel for a
week solid.
II. Officials are reporting an increase in the number of intoxicated students requiring medical
attention.
N.
I. He repeated the directions twice, but I just couldn't get it through my thick head.
II. This was an interesting idea and it was very clever of John to come up with it.
O.
I. This is a fast-paced environment, so you'll need to be quick on the uptake from the moment
you start the job.
II. He is highly intelligent, but at this point he functions at the level of a young child.
O
Direction(39-42): In the following question, a small para is given with THREE HIGHLIGHTED
PHRASAL VERBS. These phrasal verbs may be incorrectly placed. Arrange them in a
meaningful order. The para also has a highlighted IDIOM in it. Which may or may not be
correctly used. Replace that idiom with a correct idiom.
39. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the rest of the world has tried to contain the even
keel. But it is increasingly clear that these attempts have (m)put up. Bombs and missiles might not
be flying in global capitals, but the war is coming to the dinner tables of the most vulnerable people in
every corner of the planet. A series of trade barriers (n)driven up by nations in the shadow of the
conflict has (o)conked out the prices of key commodities, especially food.
A. n o m; falling-out
B. m o n; battle royal
C. o m n; bad blood
D. o n m; war of words
E. No replacement of any kind is required
40. The CJI’s remarks (m)acted on an overall dysfunction in governance that (n)made for every
sphere. The executive and the legislature both (o)pointed to in increasing the case-load. Either a
government was going to court against a citizen or citizens were complaining against its harassment.
The CJI reportedly carried a torch for governments’ tendency to ignore court orders, leading to
contempt cases.
A. o n m; had the hots for


211
B. o m n; took a dim view of

C. n o m; shed tears over
D. m o n; took exception to
41. Modern dating, admittedly, was (m)coerced into with the advent of apps like Tinder and Bumble,
which turned the finding of a mate into a marketplace with endless options but it was the pandemic
that changed the rules of the game fundamentally. With social restrictions in place, young adults with
beating hearts were (n)counted on spending time with themselves. If trends are to be (o)stirred up,
they liked it. Bumble’s 2022 global dating report shows that a whopping 53 per cent of people are no
great shakes with being alone.
A. n o m; not up to par
B. o m n; hunky-dory
C. o n m; up to snuff
D. n m o; out of sorts
42. It was just a matter of time. There were enough hints and pushes of the envelope to (m)come in
for that school syllabi in the higher classes would (n)bring in a sea-change. The Centre’s plan now,
apparently, is to (o)allude to material from the Vedas and other Indian scriptures in texts. There is
nothing on the beam with the study of texts which are culturally, linguistically and historically
invaluable. But the planned introduction must be considered in different contexts.
A. n m o; inch-perfect
B. n o m; on the money
C. o m n; wide of the mark
D. m o n; on the nose

43. Theme - Bigoted Attitudes
a. Individuals who reject human evolution tend to exhibit increased levels of prejudice compared
to those who reject the scientific theory, according to new research published in the Journal

212
of Personality and Social Psychology. The study indicates that disbelief in evolution predicts
racism and prejudice around the world and in various cultural contexts.
b. Jean-Pierre is the first Black woman to hold the position being vacated by Jen Psaki this
week. Jean-Pierre previously worked as President Joe Biden’s deputy press secretary. The
popular Fox News host declared that the administration had found someone as “shallow,
nasty and partisan” as Psaki. He then assessed Jean-Pierre’s job qualifications as only
someone who hates others on first sight could.
c. Citizenship is associated majorly with political privileges and that of being able to belong. In
an ever-evolving world and with politically organized societies, being left-out can be frightfully
disturbing, for it brings along generational existential insecurity. The idea of 'State' is man-
made and abstract, yet holds utmost significance when it comes to belongingness.
44. Theme - The Power of Music
a. Music has the ability to transport us to the past and can allow us to recall fond memories.
This is because listening to the same music repeatedly, creates associations in our brain with
the emotions experienced whilst listening to that music. So even when we replay music from
years ago, we can immediately reconnect with the emotions and feelings that were being
experienced at that time.
b. Music is universal, it brings people together from all walks of life. It doesn’t really matter what
language you speak or where you are from, music is a language that all of us can
understand. It brings people together at concerts, at places of worship and celebrations.
Research has even found that listening to music can trigger the release of oxytocin, the ‘love
hormone’ that helps us in developing empathy, trust and compassion for others.
c. While song is the earliest form of music, the cognitive and motor capabilities necessary for
the invention of musical instruments are embedded in evolutionary cognitive development
over time. After all, making objects musical is a cephalic extension of the world beyond
ourselves.
45. Theme - Media Saturation
a. People are being exposed to a high amount of media and advertising content. As you can
imagine, when that happens, the media is always trying to gain your attention. In the end, the
consumer is always fed up and so they will stop watching or reading the media.
b. The large number of media outlets in the United States implies that audience share is likely to
be far smaller for any one program than in many developing markets where there are fewer
alternatives for viewers.

213
c. Consumers’ lean increasingly towards social media as their preferred way to connect with
family and friends and also perhaps with professional acquaintances (such as LinkedIn).
When Facebook or Twitter open up the gates of their portals to advertisers, the reactions of
users tend to be negative. At this point, they are likely to limit ads to the extent that platform
privacy settings will allow. Or, at the very least, mostly ignore them.
46. Theme - Human-Wildlife Conflict on the Rise
a. As human populations and demand for space continue to grow, people and wildlife are
increasingly interacting and competing for resources. With human-wildlife conflict centered
around the interaction between wildlife and humans, human-wildlife coexistence is strongly
linked and important to sustainable development activities. If not effectively managed,
human-wildlife conflict has the potential to negatively affect these activities and conservation
much more broadly.
b. While human-wildlife conflict can result in the decline and potential eradication of species,
communities can experience financial losses and threats to health and safety, livelihoods,
food security, and property. The costs of living with wildlife are unevenly distributed and
disproportionately fall on communities that often face systemic barriers and have incomes
well below the poverty line and access to few economic opportunities.
c. We must reassess the relationship between people and wildlife to improve our coexistence in
the future. We need to adopt approaches that identify and address the deeper, underlying
causes of conflict while developing systemic, context-specific solutions with affected
communities as active and equal participants in the process.
Each statement has a blank. The blank will be filled up with appropriate PHRASAL VERB(s).
Answer the following questions correctly.
(a) Besides, elevated inflation is now a global phenomenon and it may _________ for some time.
(b) India is likely to _________ the economic fallout mainly through two channels, commodity prices
and financial markets.
(c) In addition, the Indian basket of crude has __________ $105/barrel for a while.

214
(d) High inflation along with financial market volatility is a situation India has _________ earlier.
(e) But despite the looming uncertainty, none of the challenges _________ as new challenges.
(f) Commodities, including agricultural products, have ________ a sharp increase in the price level
over the last six months.
(a) Besides, elevated inflation is now a global phenomenon and it may _________ for some time.
47. Which of the following phrasal verbs can most appropriately fit in the blank in the above
statement?
a. hold on
b. put up with
c. live on
(b) India is likely to _________ the economic fallout mainly through two channels, commodity prices
and financial markets.
statement?
a. come up against
b. live through
c. run into
(c) In addition, the Indian basket of crude has __________ $105/barrel for a while.
statement?
a. hovered around
b. hung around
c. stuck around

215
(d) High inflation along with financial market volatility is a situation India has _________ earlier.
statement?
a. death with
b. given out
c. done by
(e) But despite the looming uncertainty, none of the challenges _________ as new challenges.
statement?
a. crop up
b. fizzle out
c. pop up
(f) Commodities, including agricultural products, have ________ a sharp increase in the price level
over the last six months.
statement?
a. written down
b. set down
c. signed on

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

216

54. Theme - Acoustic Expression
a. As most of the world went into lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, there were
countless examples of people turning to song as solace. Italians belted arias from their
balconies, famous musicians performed mini concerts from their living rooms and choirs took
their sessions online to become virtual virtuosos.
b. Writing holds no barriers. The writer is freer to express, influence, and even argue. It is easier
to crush down any fears and worries; you are less reserved when you write compared to
other medium of communication.
c. Sound production, in animals, the initiation of sound as a means of information transmission.
Sounds are termed vocal when produced in the respiratory system and mechanical when
produced by mutual contact of body parts or by contact with some element in the
environment.
A. Only a and c B. Only c C. Only b D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c
(virtuoso - a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

choir - an organized group of singers, especially one that takes part in church services or performs
in public.)
55. Theme - Crude Justice
a. It is time the government acted to rein in ‘khap’ or ‘caste panchayats’. These caste
panchayats — distinct from the panchayats set up under the Indian Constitution — are illegal
bodies active in rural north India. They are running amok delivering verdicts that are barbaric
and medieval, which are audaciously being passed off as ‘justice.’
b. The dirty business of extracting oil is perhaps best revealed in all its gory in the Niger Delta.
The path to litigation in Nigeria is long and painful. Claims are often dust-binned for years
before they mysteriously ‘disappear’, and the corporate- government embrace is designed to
let the polluter off the hook.
c. Adolf Eichmann was one of the major players involved in the Holocaust. He was charged with
managing and facilitating the mass deportation of Jews to ghettos and killing centers in the
German-occupied East. In 1960 Eichmann was successfully captured in Argentina and
brought to Israel where he began his trial on April 11th, 1961. The trial was so prolific that it

217
actually served to be the first courtroom trial to be televised worldwide; making Eichmann’s
inexcusable actions known to virtually everyone.
(run amok - behave uncontrollably and disruptively.

let someone off the hook - to allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or
illegal) to go without being punished.)
56. Abortion has for long been one of the most bitterly-contested ethical and political
questions.
a. Abortion requires the opinion of two medical professionals in cases over 20 weeks but not
exceeding 24 weeks — is ambiguous, leaving pregnant women vulnerable to executive
overreach.
b. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act is an exception to the provisions in
the Indian Penal Code that criminalised voluntary miscarriage or abortion.
c. Issues like the definition of termination, new licensing norms for abortion clinics, breach of
confidentiality and the way forward for women seeking abortion beyond the 24-weeks
gestational period are highly complicated.
57. Kashmir Valley’s bloodstained landscape was spattered in red.
a. Various communities in Kashmir suffered from a mass exodus when it was targeted by
separatist militants and, subsequently, from murders and massacres.
b. Last week, a government employee was shot dead by terrorists at his office in Kashmir
Valley.
c. The abduction of a Kashmiri Pandit has sparked protests across Jammu and Kashmir Valley.

218
58. Geographical location aggravates the unequal distribution of the human and economic
costs.
a. The distribution of wealth is the way in which the wealth of a nation is divided among its
population, or the way in which the wealth of the world is divided among states.
b. Wealth often exhibits a gendered quality as well with unequal wealth distribution varying
between men and women.
c. The building of housing estates or social housing for urban poor demonstrates that the
concentration of low income households in set communities can cut off individuals due to
poor transport links.

59. Theme - The Aftermath of War
a. The United States and its NATO partners need to show similar creative imagination now as
the war in Ukraine grinds on. The world will eventually celebrate a final Ukrainian victory and
the expulsion of the last Russian invader. But that could be years, even decades, away. For a
long while, Ukraine is likely to be a partially divided country, with Russian troops across
what’s likely to be a hot cease-fire line.
b. Several Asia-Pacific economies, many of which are classified as countries in special
situations, are deemed more exposed to the war in Ukraine than others. Armenia, Cambodia,
Georgia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka could be harder hit because their economic structure and
conditions are more exposed to higher energy and food prices, smaller external financial
inflows, rising financing costs and/or a sudden shift in business sentiments.
c. Vladimir Putin unleashed the biggest war in Europe since World War Two with the
justification that modern, Western-leaning Ukraine was a constant threat and Russia could
not feel "safe, develop and exist". The Russian leader's initial aim was to overrun Ukraine and
depose its government, ending for good its desire to join the Western defensive alliance
Nato.

219
60. Theme - The Effects of Amputation Surgery
a. Evidence supports that the action of surgically cutting off a limb plays an important role in
some patients, especially those for whom survival is not the main concern. A study found that
severely ill or debilitated patients with metastatic musculoskeletal disease were likely to opt
for major that process. The process had reduced pain and improved mobility and emotional
and psychological wellbeing.
b. Limb loss is not only a major physical and functional loss; it also presents the patient with a
matchless psychological and emotional situation. Our limbs are a major part not only of our
physical being but also of our body image and our self-image. Losing a limb will forever alter
all these aspects of the the patient’s life.
c. The surgery typically involves the removal of all or part of a limb. Each particular site
throughout the upper or lower limbs has individualized characteristics of bone shape, nerves,
musculature and blood vessels, as well as particular muscles, skin and soft tissue envelope
structures available for padding, protecting, and reconstruction. An intimate understanding of
the anatomy of all these sites is important when deciding where and how to cut off by surgical
operation.
61. Theme - Adolescent Immaturity
a. Michael, 18, knows about the dangers of drinking and driving, but figures a couple of beers
won't put him over the edge. After an evening of partying with friends, he tucks himself behind
the wheel of the 1989 Honda Civic he borrowed from his brother. The police pick him up 30
minutes later for erratic driving.
b. Expecting the Philadelphia teenagers to control their impulses or resist peer pressure is like
expecting a 6-month-old to walk, say experts in neuroscience and teenage psychology. Their
brains are still under construction and, contrary to adult perception, won't be fully full-grown
until they are in their early to mid- 20s.
c. Dina Goldstone, a 19-year-old from Wynnewood, was spending the summer at an Upstate
New York camp, where she was teaching circus arts. On a July Fourth weekend in 2005, she
and several friends were returning to camp from a party. The driver of their car had been

220
drinking heavily and that stopped Dina and a friend from trusting him to get them back to
camp safely. Dina and her friends evaded a possible crash.
62. You're just an intern, so get off your high horse and do this filing, like I asked you to.
A. stop being haughty

B. stop being lazy
C. don't get too excited
D. free yourself from any doubt
63. I worry that all the trauma she's already been through at such a young age will harden her
heart.
A. make her a better human being

B. make her more practical
C. cause her to stop feeling kindness
D. cause her to stop being funny
64. Mr. Sharma was known to be very hard-nosed, but he could really be friendly if you got to know
him.
A. arrogant and rude

B. stern and unforgiving
C. excessively ill-mannered
D. Both A and C

221
65. Susan's not a hardliner, so I really think she'll listen to your views on the matter.
A. a person who takes a strict position on something

B. someone who has an unyielding, inflexible belief in some person or thing
C. highly arrogant and superstitious
D. Both A and B
Direction(66-69): Given below the sentences each of which has been divided into five parts.
Each of the questions is then followed by four options which give the sequence of the
rearranged parts. You must choose the option which gives the correct sequence of the parts.
66. (m) Over the years, historical research on figures associated (n) There exists a credible
argument that (o) For the well-known protagonists (p) An unmistakable attraction (q) With the
uprising have demonstrated
A. npqmo
B. pnmqo
C. moqnp
D. nmqpo
67. (m) Who are marginal to this theatre of conflict as (n) Jawan Bakht and countless others, prince
and plebeian, (o) The second war of independence (p) India celebrates the 75th year of the fruits of
(q) How should one view Shah Zamani Begum,
A. qponm
B. pnomq
C. qnmpo
D. nmqop
68. (m) The president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and (n) Prime Minister Narendra
Modi joined (o) The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (p) At the launch of a new Washingtonled
bloc called (q) The prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, on Monday

222
A. npqmo
B. pnmqo
C. moqnp
D. nmqpo
69. (m) Which New Delhi walked out of, or (n) Whether the RCEP, (o) The Association of Southeast
Asian Nations — has not been positive (p) Free trade agreements with (q) India’s experience with
multilateral trade deals —
A. qponm
B. pnomq
C. qnmpo
D. nmqop
70. Because this situation is so serious, it bears watching over the next few hours.
A. warrants one's attention

B. needs to be postponed
C. demands transparency
D. appears to be very risky
71. Life is full of peaks and troughs—the trick is, you always have to be hopeful.
A. valuable experiences
B. good times and bad times
C. chances and opportunities
D. Both A and C

223
72. We've only got two more weeks until the deadline, and we're down three staff members, so the
heat is on to get this project finished.
A. the pressure in a situation is high

B. the required time is very limited
C. the urgency to do something has reached a very high level
D. Both A and C
73. I was as high as a kite when I found out that I'd gotten an A on my hardest exam.
A. utterly surprised
B. absolutely happy
C. in a state of disbelief
D. Both A and C
74. M.
I. He insisted that he could run faster than me, but when I called his bluff, he suddenly said he
had to go home.
II. She said she would leave him, but he knew it was an idle threat.
N.
I. Jeff's big claim to fame is being on that reality show for one episode.
II. Winning the Olympic title has brought her fame and fortune.
O.
I. I was the lead salesperson, so I knew that I would be called to account when my team lost
that big client.
II. With his wife gone, he was solely responsible for the care of a newborn infant. Hence, if
anything happens to the newborn, he'll be blamed.

224
O
75. M.
I. It's hard, but I do try to build a little sight-seeing into my work trips. I don't want to be a slam-
clicker all the time.
II. I was starting to get sick of being under-motivated, lazy, and idle.
N.
I. The next time you borrow my book without my permission, I'll give you a clip round the ear!
II. You don't have to hit my head with it, It hurts.
O.
I. I was furious when I heard the other kids telling jokes at my little brother's expense.
II. His poor educational track record inevitably worked to his disadvantage.
O
76. M.
I. John's been in my good graces ever since he helped get me out of debt.
II. Their communication by letters had been strong until he had gotten out of prison last year.
N.
I. I have a hard time getting to the Land of Nod at night. I've always got too much going on in
my head.
II. The insomniac is unable to get sufficient sleep for their daily needs.
O.
I. Can you believe the boss gave me my head on this project? Finally, I can present a
campaign with my own vision!
II. Our class-teacher granted us total freedom to arrange the annual program the way we like to
arrange.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O C. Only N and O

D. All M, N and O E. None of M, N and O
In each statement, there are TWO BLANKS, indicating TWO MISSING WORDS. Choose the
correct combination of the missing words.

225
(a) However, by _________ requirements of vaccination and masking in public spaces, there’s a
clear signal that the ________ of transmission has all but gone.
(b) India’s states have largely _________ Covid-related restrictions on ________.
(c) WHO this week laid out three scenarios of the pandemic’s evolution in 2022 and the most likely
scenario is the virus will continue to evolve but the _______ of disease will _______.
(d) Now, Maharashtra, Delhi and Telangana have also ________ removed the ________ to mask up
in public spaces by removing fines.
(e) However, in the worst case scenario a more _______ variant can emerge, which can ________
the efficacy of vaccination; this is something governments need to keep in mind.
(f) It’s an _______ move; it also ignores the available research by epidemiologists on the likely
_________ of the pandemic.
(g) For sure, all governments _________ that people follow Covid appropriate ________.
(a) However, by _________ requirements of vaccination and masking in public spaces, there’s a
clear signal that the ________ of transmission has all but gone.
77. Which of the following pairs of words can most appropriately fit in the blanks in the above
statement respectively?
a. watering down, threat

b. wearing out, menace
c. softening up, peril
(b) India’s states have largely _________ Covid-related restrictions on ________.

226
a. relaxed, mobility
b. moderated, movability
c. alleviated, versatility
(c) WHO this week laid out three scenarios of the pandemic’s evolution in 2022 and the most likely
scenario is the virus will continue to evolve but the _______ of disease will _______.
a. gravity, fall off

b. severity, diminish
c. leniency, plummet
(d) Now, Maharashtra, Delhi and Telangana have also ________ removed the ________ to mask up
in public spaces by removing fines.
a. de facto, mandate
b. in practice, directive
c. in effect, decree
(e) However, in the worst case scenario a more _______ variant can emerge, which can ________
the efficacy of vaccination; this is something governments need to keep in mind.
a. virulent, undermine
b. benignant, sabotage

227
c. pernicious, subvert
(f) It’s an _______ move; it also ignores the available research by epidemiologists on the likely
_________ of the pandemic.
a. unwise, trajectory
b. injudicious, route
c. astute, path
(g) For sure, all governments _________ that people follow Covid appropriate ________.
a. advocate, behavior
b. recommend, conduct
c. exhort, deportment

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

228
In each statement, there are TWO BLANKS, indicating A MISSING WORD AND A MISSING
PHRASE. Choose the correct combination of the missing words.
(a) Among the tools __________________ was the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016,
the most _________ measure thus far.
(b) Between 2000-01 and 2009-10, there was growth _________________; bank credit as a
_________ of GDP ratio increased from 24% to 50%.
(c) The lost decade was ______ by a slow process of ___________________ and then their clean-
up.
(d) India’s banking industry has ____________ over the last two ________.
(e) In the next decade, ___________________, the credit to GDP __________ at around 50%.
(a) Among the tools __________________ was the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016,
the most _________ measure thus far.
85. Which of the following pairs of a phrase and a word can most appropriately fit in the
a. introduced to aid the process, far-reaching

b. brought in to trammel the process, extensive
c. launched to be of service to the process, wide-ranging
A. Only a and b B. Only a and c

C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

229
(b) Between 2000-01 and 2009-10, there was growth _________________; bank credit as a
_________ of GDP ratio increased from 24% to 50%.
a. at breakneck speed, proportion

b. at full pelt, portion
c. like the wind, part

(c) The lost decade was ______ by a slow process of ___________________ and then their clean-
up.
87. Which of the following pairs of a word and a phrase can most appropriately fit in the
a. marked, first accounting for bad loans

b. distinguished, first doing away with bad loans
c. characterized, first forming the total of bad loans

(d) India’s banking industry has ____________ over the last two ________.
a. seen two phases, decades

b. seen two periods, decennaries
c. seen two stages, decennials


230
(e) In the next decade, ___________________, the credit to GDP __________ at around 50%.
a. as imprudent loans hit home, stagnated

b. as ill-conceived loans strongly affected us, went along
c. as ill-considered loans struck home, became trapped

(a) Among the tools introduced to aid the process was the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
in 2016, the most far-reaching measure thus far.
(b) Between 2000-01 and 2009-10, there was growth at breakneck speed; bank credit as a
proportion of GDP ratio increased from 24% to 50%.
(c) The lost decade was marked by a slow process of first accounting for bad loans and then their
clean-up.
(d) India’s banking industry has seen two phases over the last two decades.
(e) In the next decade, as imprudent loans hit home, the credit to GDP stagnated at around 50%.

A. b c a
B. d b e
C. d e c
D. d b c
On March 28, the government introduced the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill in the Lok
Sabha, seeking to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 which regulates how the police
can gather data from convicted or suspected criminals. The Bill exemplifies the current trend to

231
pass laws that are filled with ambiguity and lack of safeguards. It also reflects a desire to expand
the power of the government to interfere in the lives of citizens.
If the Bill were passed, the type of data collected by the police would shift dramatically, from basic
fingerprint and footprint impressions to a range of other samples, including iris and retina scans,
behavioural attributes, and “biological samples”. The National Crime Records Bureau would hold
the collected data for 75 years. Rule-making power in this arena, currently vested only (in) state
governments, would be extended to the central government. More importantly, the Bill would entirely
reshape the remit of law-enforcement officers to gather personal data. While the present law’s
provisions apply only to convicts, those who are out on bail or those arrested for serious crimes, the
Bill extends this wanton collection of data not only to all convicts, but also to anyone who is arrested
or detained, and even people who are merely “suspected” of committing a crime or are deemed
“likely” to do so.
91. M.
I. Just because I highlighted potential problems with the legislation does not mean that I
oppose it. Please don't put words in my mouth like that.
II. A person may falsely attribute an undesirable feature to people she assigns to a racial group
because of her disregard for those in the group.
N.
I. I'm not having any luck getting the kids to go play outside. They're being total lazy dogs
today.
II. The two boys looked at each other, and a little mischievous grin developed between them.
O.
I. Listen, pal, don't monkey around with me! Either pay your debts on time or we'll have to
repossess your home.
II. Many people have been tricked by villains with false identity cards.
A. Only M and N B. Only M and O

C. Only N and O D. All M, N and O E. None of M, N and O

232
92. M.
I. After you've been in this industry for as long as I have, you'll learn you have to look at deals
like these with a jaundiced eye.
II. Civil War combat had hardened him to a pessimistic expectation of repeated failure.
N.
I. This is a nuanced situation, and that fool has no idea what he's talking about—he's just
spouting horseback opinions, as usual.
II. Being depressed doesn't give you an excuse to be so unthoughtful about others.
O.
I. It was my first time playing poker at the casino, and the more experienced players definitely
took me to the cleaners.
II. I cheated on his trust and took advantage of his stoical nature.

93. M.
I. You don't have to take everyone to task who misuses the word "literally," you know.
II. He was criticized, he was rebuked by others in the Pentagon at the time.
N.
I. I heard you're having some engine trouble—mind if I take a look-see?
II. Chloe then glanced down at her watch and noticed the time.
O.
I. I went out last night with all my old high school buddies for a night on the town. We had a
gas!
II. We were on the verge of a wonderful trip, however we landed up with difficulties on the last
day.

94. M.
I. I am so excited to go out for a night on the tiles after I finish my exams this week.
II. For some children starting kindergarten is an exciting adventure.
N.
I. My husband is a real day lark—he has boundless energy as long as the sun is up, but after it
sets, he crashes.
II. My sister prefers to be awake late at night, as she becomes more productive during that time.

233
O.
I. The musician feared becoming a nine days' wonder, forgotten long before he ever achieved
success in his career.
II. Happiness is a transient condition that vanishes the moment it's in your grip.
A. Only M B. Only N C. Only O D. All M, N and O E. None of M, N and O
Direction(95-98): Four statements are given below, labelled A, B, C and D, among these, three
statements are logically connected. From the given options, choose the option that does not
fit into the theme of the passage.
You're now given three statements. You've to replace the odd statement with a statement /
statements from the three statements given, that is/are in line with the other three statements.
95.
A. Fat-tailed scorpions are among the most deadly in the world; venom from a black fat-tail can kill
humans in under an hour.
B. In addition to desert habitats, scorpions have adapted to temperate, subtropical, and tropical
environments such as grasslands, savannas, and forests.
C. Scorpions are commonly thought of as desert dwellers, but they also live in Brazilian forests,
British Columbia, North Carolina, and even the Himalayas.
D. Scorpions can be observed in many types of habitats; however, most scorpions prefer deserts
and semi-arid regions; most scorpions hide under logs, rocks, boards and clutter.
96. Which of the following statements can replace the odd statement in the above passage?
a. Most scorpions are sit-and-wait predators that remain motionless until a suitable victim has
moved into an ambush zone.
b. In the hot, humid jungles of western Africa lives the black emperor scorpion; it ranges from
Senegal through the Congo and Gabon.
c. Scorpions are incredibly versatile and live all over the world; although we usually think of
them living in the desert, they can be found in a variety of climates.

C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c

234
E. None of a, b and c
97.
A. Soft drinks are viewed by many as a major contributor to obesity and related health problems,
though the claims have been unfounded.
B. In a meta-analysis of 88 studies, we examined the association between soft drink consumption

and nutrition and health outcomes and we found clear associations of soft drink intake with increased
energy intake and body weight.
C. In the intervening years, controversy arose over several fundamental concerns: whether these
beverages lead to energy overconsumption and whether they contribute to diseases such as obesity
and diabetes.
D. Soft drink consumption has become a highly visible and controversial public health and public
policy issue; a key question is whether actions taken to decrease soft drink consumption are
warranted.
98. Which of the following statements can replace the odd statement in the above passage?
a. An infographic by the British pharmacist Niraj Naik shows the damage that a 330 milliliter can
of soft drink can inflict on the body within 1 hour of consumption; Naik based the infographic
on research by health writer Wade Meredith.
b. In a study of 91249 women followed for 8 years, those who consumed 1 or more servings of
soft drink per day were twice as likely as those who consumed less than 1 serving per month
to develop diabetes over the course of the study.
c. One would expect a weaker relationship of soft drink consumption with body weight than with
energy intake because soft drinks are not the only source of energy in the diet.

C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c
E. None of a, b and c
Directions (99-100): Rearrange the following phrases/sentences, denoted by (A), (B), (C), (D)
and (E), in a proper and meaningful sequence and mark the correct arrangement as your
answer.

235
99. (a) The Calcutta High Court reportedly found (b) What has been done (c) In campaigns and poll
booths, and asked it to file a shorter one (d) That the EC’s affidavit was ‘unable to update’ the court
on (e) To enforce Covid-19 guidelines
A. acbde
B. adbec
C. acdbe
D. cbdae
E. cabde
100. (a) With its wings could be a matter of life and death (b) Gardens, parks and farms to host
shady, cooling-off spots. (c) In a warming world, according to (d) A butterfly's ability to absorb or
reflect heat from the sun (e) A British research published Thursday calling for
A. edacb
B. daceb
C. acbed
D. edabc
E. cbdae
ANSWER
1.(Answer - B. cab
By turning climate talks into a means of fostering global partnerships, influential nations could build
valuable bridges to facilitate cultural, social and economic exchange alongside mitigating climate
disaster.)
2.(Answer - A. bca
Several states have promised to vaccinate their citizens for free but there is concern whether they
would have sufficient amounts of doses at their disposal.
at one's disposal - available for one to use whenever or however one wishes.)

236
3.(Answer - B. arguing
split hairs - to argue about small details or differences.)
4.(Answer - C. to go to bed in order to sleep.
hit the hay - to get into bed and go to sleep.)
in seventh heaven - to be extremely happy.)
6.(Answer - D. Both A and B
the apple of one's eye - a person of whom one is extremely fond and proud.)
7.[Answer - A. AAA
hitherto - so far, yet
Clump - bunch
Clamp - a device that holds things firmly together.
'aged' is generally with 'a person' or 'a living object'.

'ageing' means 'growing old', which makes perfect sense here.]
8.[Answer - D. BBA
'struck me' means, 'hit me' or 'made me think'.
'since' means 'as' or 'because', here.
'wherever planted' - 'no matter in which place it's planted'.]
9.[Answer - B. BBA
put them down means, 'put the books down, after reading'. 'up' doesn't make any sense.

237
'altered' means 'changed'.

'alternate' means 'secondary'. It makes sense here.
'otherwise' is appropriate, according to the sense and context.

Because, it's saying that, only books can produce a flash of insight, a spark of intuition, nothing else
can.]
10. (Answer - C. D C
c a d e b)
11.(Answer - B. Targets are reached / met / achieved by someone/something else. So, targets
must be reached.)
12.(Answer - C.
See, 'analytic' is an adjective, but 'analytics' is a noun.
'analytics' - the method of logical analysis.
Hence, option A isn't correct, despite being so close to option C.
'use' is the correct verb here, not 'apply'.)
hence - as a consequence; for this reason.

The inaccuracies stimulate a lot of class discussion, hence facilitate a lot of learning.
Statements in (b) can be connected using 'meanwhile'.
Statements in (c) can be connected using 'besides'.)
14.(Answer - C. Both a and b
eventually - in the end, especially after a long time or a lot of effort, problems, etc.
It was a bitter blow they did not need and eventually it led to their ninth home defeat of the
campaign.

238
She is learning to be a hairdresser and eventually she would like to go to university.
Statements in (c) can be connected using 'similarly'.)
prioritizing beneficiaries means - giving importance to the population who will receive
vaccines.
Only a and c are talking about that.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about what India can do in dealing with the differences in the
distribution infrastructure needed.
It's not about prioritizing beneficiaries.)
Moral policing of OTT content means the government trying to define the idea of
entertainment and the makers trying to please everyone by making morally acceptable
content.
Statements a and c described the negative sides of moral policing of OTT content, which is
the actual theme.
The citizens of the largest democracy in the world will be left with minimal to choose from -
that means the vibrancy and diversity will be destroyed.
b - Incorrect. It's contradictory.)
Statement a - Correct. It's absolutely describing the fact with an example that Yoga has a
universal appeal and a global outlook.
Statement c - Correct. It's also explaining the fact Yoga has a universal appeal and a global
outlook. That's why the world will be celebrating the 8th International Day of Yoga.
Statement b - Incorrect.

239
The phrase - yoga is now being acknowledged as a practice that helps individuals of its origin
country cope with the pressures of the 21st century. - makes the option Incorrect.)
holistic - dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part.
Hence, statements a and c are absolutely correct.
According to these statements, the CRS report has covered almost every reason for death.
b - Incorrect. Just by seeing the estimate in figures, it can't be said that the report is holistic.)
agency - action or intervention producing a particular effect; activity.
Hence, only statement a is absolutely correct.
b - Incorrect. It's totally irrelevant.
c - Incorrect. The word 'reluctantly' makes it contradictory and incorrect.
reluctant - unwilling.)
The act seems absolutely mindful of a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and privacy.
That means, this gives the women the freedom to choose what they want.
a - Incorrect. It's absolutely contradictory.
The act makes the right to abortion, and, by extension, to her body, individuality and life,
limited and hemmed in.
hemmed in - prevented from changing.

So the act here is limiting and restrictive.
c - Incorrect. The act treats abortion as a criminal offense. Hence, it's not giving women the
freedom to choose what they want to do.

240
b - Correct. It's absolutely giving freedom to women to choose what they want to do.)
Gang Violence / Gang War - violence by a group of criminals or hoodlums who band together for
mutual protection and profit.
Hence a and b are perfectly right.
cartel - A cartel is an organization created from a formal agreement between a group of producers of
a good or service to regulate supply.
Statement c - Incorrect. It's an example of mob violence.

Mob violence and gang violence are different.)
Religious sentiment - an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by religion.

All three statements are talking about religious sentiment.)
A nuisance can either be "public" or "private."
In general, a public nuisance negatively affects an entire community or a large number of

people, while a private nuisance affects an individual or a relatively small number of people.
Hence, a and b are the examples of public nuisance.
in consonance - in harmony.
deferential - respectful.
all hands on deck - used to indicate that the involvement of all members of a team is required.

241
a - Incorrect. It's a suggestive statement. It doesn't express the main context.
c - Incorrect. It's a completely different statement which describes the outcomes of communal
violence.)
The learning gap has widened between children from affluent families and those from lower
socio-economic backgrounds.
That means, the gaps in learning are not even among social constituencies.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about employment gaps.
c - Incorrect. This is completely out of context.)
In these two statements the author has supported the fact that a study of different religious
cultures has its own value.
That means, according to him, a study of different religious cultures is invaluable.
c - Incorrect. It's contradictory. The author here supports the discrimination of religions in
studies.)
Plastic is hazardous according to the above statement.
touch-and-go - risky or hazardous.
a place in the sun - a very good, successful, or desirable position.
ill-starred - unlucky.)

242
Statement a - Correct. It describes the word 'commercially viable'.
Statement b - Correct. It describes the word 'scalable'.
Statement c - Incorrect. It describes the word 'sustainable', which is not given.)
Statement b - Correct. It describes the fact that only about nine per cent of plastic ever
created has been recycled. That means the vast majority of plastic is accumulating in landfills
or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter
Statement c - Correct. It describes the fact that the hazards of plastic pollution are manifold.
Statement a - Incorrect. Data insufficient.)
30. (Answer - C. Only a
across the board - covering all; all-inclusive.

Refer to - that will address the entire life-cycle of plastic — from manufacturing to disposal.
wall-to-wall - continuous or happening very often or everywhere around you.
coast-to-coast - Throughout the entire country.)
The statement starts with 'Hearteningly'.
hearteningly - in a positive and happy manner.
Hence, only a and b are correct. As these applications of plastic is not only innovative but
also beneficial.
But, statement c is not correct. This very application of plastic may be innovative but it's not
beneficial at all. Plastic bottles are one of the major unrecycled products.)
The first phrasal verbs - to adopt.

243
The second phrasal verbs - to build or forge.
The third phrasal verbs - to end.)
causing irreparable damage to marine ecosystems
This phrase is being justified by a and b only.
brook - river or waterway.
chocking - preventing the movement of.
Option c - Incorrect. It has no relation to the marine ecosystems.)
34.(Answer - C. g a e
f d c g a e b)
35.(Answer - A. Only M and N
answer the bell - To meet a challenge with success; to accomplish.
foot-in-the-door - Aggressive or pushy in an attempt to get someone to do something.
fool's errand - A task that has little to no chance of being successful or beneficial.
But, statement II is talking about something being beneficial.)
36.(Answer - B. Only M and O
fool's bargain - An agreement that only benefits one of the parties involved.
kiss one's ring - To express one's respect, fealty, awe, subjection, or reverence to someone.
But, statement II is talking about flattering.
send owls to Athens - To do or undertake something redundant, pointless, or futile.)

244
37.(Answer - C. Only N and O
call one to account - To confront or question one about one's wrongdoings.

But, statement II is talking about punishing someone.
the short straw - The least favorable, desirable, or fortunate outcome in a given selection.
the short end of the stick - An unequal outcome of a deal that results in a disadvantage or burden.)
loaded to the barrel - intoxicated.
thick head - An inability to retain information or understand instructions.

But, statement II is talking about being clever.
quick on the uptake - Able to grasp or understand something very quickly and easily; highly
intelligent.)
39.(Answer - C. o m n; bad blood
bad blood / falling-out - conflict.
battle royale - a fiercely contested fight or dispute.
war of words - a prolonged, often acrimonious, debate.
even keel - a balanced situation.
conk out - fail.

put up - construct or erect something.
drive up - to make a price or amount rise to a higher level.)
40. (Answer - B. o m n; took a dim view of

245
take a dim view of / take exception to - object strongly to.
shed tears over - to cry.
have the hots for - to admire someone.

carry a torch for - suffer from unrequited(not returned) love for.
act on - to affect.
point to - to indicate.
make for - to contribute.)
41.(Answer - B. o m n; hunky-dory
hunky-dory / up to snuff - okay or fine.
not up to par - not okay.

out of sorts - slightly unwell.
no great shakes - not very good or significant.
counted on - believe.
coerced into - forced into.
stirred up - revolutionized.)
42.(Answer - C. o m n; wide of the mark
wide of the mark - wrong.
on the nose / on the monkey / inch-perfect - completely accurate or correct.
on the beam - on the right track.
allude to - to indicate.
come in for - to undergo.
bring in - to introduce.)
bigoted attitude - obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction, in particular

prejudiced against or antagonistic towards a person or people on the basis of their
membership of a particular group.

246
Option a - Correct. It's talking about individuals who tend to exhibit increased levels of
prejudice.
Option b - Correct. It's justifying the point 'antagonistic towards a person or people on the
basis of their membership of a particular group.'
Option c - Incorrect. It's talking about being left-out and having no belongingness.
It's a different theme altogether.)
Options a and b are absolutely explaining how powerful music can be.
These options are talking about the effects music can have in human lives.
Option c - Incorrect. It's talking about the evolution of music.)
Media saturation refers to the amount of media a society consumes and produces. Media
saturation means the amount of news and entertainment that the media produces and offers
to the public. Citizens live their lives full of media presence.
Options a and b are talking about that scenario where users are full with vast media opinions
and where users are exposed to high amount of media.
Option c - Incorrect. It's talking about a different scenario. It's not talking about media
saturation. It's talking about the reactions of users to ads.)
All these options are talking about Human-Wildlife Conflict.

But, only a is talking about the fact that Human-Wildlife Conflict is on the Rise.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about the effects of Human-Wildlife conflicts.
c - Incorrect. It's talking about what we should do to improve our coexistence with wildlife in
the future.)

247
hold on / live on - remain in existence; last.
put up with - suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.

This phrasal verb will not fit here grammatically.)
All three mean - to experience or encounter.)
All three mean - remain at or near a particular level.)
do by / deal with - to behave toward in a stated way.
give out - to distribute.)
crop up / pop up - to appear.
fizzle out - to disappear.)
write down / set down - to record or register.
sign on - commit oneself to a contract of employment, membership of a society, or some other

undertaking.)
b f c a e d)
54.(Answer - A. Only a and c

248
acoustic - relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
Hence, only a and c will be correct.

a is talking about music, which is a form of acoustic expression.
c is talking about animal sound, which also is a form of acoustic expression.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about writing.)
crude justice - any administration of the law or authority in maintaining this done in a brutal,
unpolished and unfair way.
a and b are talking about unfair and brutal justice.

While, c is talking about fair and remarkable justice.)
Abortion has for long been one of the most bitterly-contested ethical and political questions.
That means the answers must talk about abortion negatively.
Statements a and c are talking about the difficulties faced by pregnant women who want to
abort.
executive overreach - the act of doing more than your authority allows.
gestation - the process or period of developing inside the womb between conception and birth.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about the act in a positive way.)
Option c can be eliminated.

It's said that Kashmir Valley’s bloodstained landscape was spattered in red.
spattered - covered.
Abduction means kidnapping.

Hence, it can't be said that Kashmir Valley’s bloodstained landscape was spattered in red,
since there happened no killing.

249
Therefore, a and b are correct.)
poor transport links - it's a geographical disadvantage that's affecting equal distribution of wealth.
a - Incorrect. It's just a definition of the distribution of wealth.
b - Incorrect. It's talking about gender discrimination and its effects on human wealth
distribution.)
The aftermath of war means the impacts of war.

In other words, which possible things can happen after a war.
Options a and b are absolutely correct as they're expressing the aftermath of the Russia-
Ukraine war.
Refer to - For a long while, Ukraine is likely to be a partially divided country, with Russian troops
across what’s likely to be a hot cease-fire line.
And, Several Asia-Pacific economies, many of which are classified as countries in special situations,
are deemed more exposed to the war in Ukraine than others.
But, option c is expressing the cause of the Russia-Ukraine war.)
amputation surgery - the action of surgically cutting off a limb.
Option a is describing the POSITIVE EFFECTS of amputation surgery.
Option b is expressing the NEGATIVE EFFECTS of amputation surgery.
But, option c is expressing how an amputation surgery should be done.)
Adolescent Immaturity - behaviour that is appropriate to someone younger. Behaviour that is not
as calm and wise as people expect from someone of your age and the fact of not having much
experience of something, especially prevalent in teenage boys and girls.
Adolescent - teenage.

250
Options a and b are talking about adolescent immaturity in a correct way.
Option c is talking about a mature and thoughtful decision taken by a teenager.
Refer to - On a July Fourth weekend in 2005, she and several friends were returning to camp from a
party. The driver of their car had been drinking heavily and that stopped Dina and a friend
from trusting him to get them back to camp safely. Dina and her friends evaded a possible
crash.
evade - to avoid.)
62.(Answer - A. stop being haughty
haughty - arrogant.)
63.(Answer - C. cause her to stop feeling kindness)
64.(Answer - B. stern and unforgiving
stern - strict.
Being stern and unforgiving isn't the same as being arrogant, rude or ill-mannered.)
66.(Answer - D. nmqpo
There exists a credible argument that over the years, historical research on figures associated with
the uprising have demonstrated an unmistakable attraction for the well-known protagonists.)
67.(Answer - C. qnmpo
How should one view Shah Zamani Begum, Jawan Bakht and countless others, prince and plebeian,
who are marginal to this theatre of conflict as India celebrates the 75th year of the fruits of the
second war of independence?

251
plebeian - commoner.)
68.(Answer - D. nmqpo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and
the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, on Monday at the launch of a new Washingtonled bloc
called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.)
69.(Answer - C. qnmpo
India’s experience with multilateral trade deals — whether the RCEP, which New Delhi walked out
of, or free trade agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — has not been
positive.)
70.(Answer - A. warrants one's attention)
71.(Answer - B. good times and bad times)
73.(Answer - B. absolutely happy)
74.(Answer - D. All M, N and O
call one's bluff - To challenge someone to act on their threat or prove that their claim or boast is
true, when one believes they are making a false claim or idle threat.
claim to fame - The reason why someone or something is famous or well-known.
call to account - To blame one for something.)
slam-clicker - To reach a destination and then spend most of one's time in one's hotel room.
It's a very specific idiom. But, statement II is talking about being lazy.
a clip round the ear - A strike on one's head.
at one's expense - To one's detriment or disadvantage.)


252
be in (one's) good graces - To be in one's favor; to have earned one's approval or regard.
The Land of Nod - The state of sleep.
give (one) (one's) head - To allow one to do what one wants; to grant one more or total freedom.)
water down / soften up - to make something weaker or less effective.
wear out - be used until no longer in good condition or working order.
It doesn't make sense.
threat, menace and peril are synonymous.)
relax / moderate / alleviate - make (a rule or restriction) less strict.
versatility - ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

This is not an appropriate word here.
mobility / movability - the ability to move.)
severity / gravity - seriousness.
leniency - tolerance.
fall off / plummet - to diminish.)
de facto (adv) - in practice or in effect or in reality.
mandate / directive / decree - an official order or commission to do something.)


253
virulent / pernicious - deadly.
benignant - harmless.
subvert / sabotage / undermine - lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually
or insidiously.)
unwise / injudicious - not wise or sensible; foolish.
astute - intelligent.
trajectory - path or route.)
advocate / exhort - to recommend or urge.
deportment - behavior or conduct.)
84.(Answer - D. a f c
b d g a f c e )
be of service to - to aid or assist.
brought in - introduced.
trammel - to hinder.
wide-ranging / far-reaching - extensive.)


254
at breakneck speed / at full pelt / like the wind - very quickly or with so much speed.
portion, proportion and part are synonymous.)
account for - form a total of.
do away with - to get rid of.

But, in the next line the phrase is - then their clean-up. Hence, it will be redundant.)
phase - stage or period.
decennary / decade - a period of 10 years.
decennial is an adjective. It means - recurring every ten years.)
ill-conceived / ill-considered / imprudent - not carefully planned or considered.
hit home / strike home - have the intended, especially unsettling or painful, effect on their audience
or become fully realized by someone.
stagnate - become trapped.
go along - to flow.)
90.(Answer - B. d b e
d b e c a)


255
don't put words in my mouth - Do not falsely attribute some statement or belief to me.
don't monkey around with me - Do not try to trick me or tell me a lie.
lazy dog - idle.

But, statement II is talking about being mischievous.)
92.(Answer - D. All M, N and O
a jaundiced eye - A negative view or opinion prejudiced by past experiences.
a horseback opinion - An opinion that is not well thought out (with the implication that one has not
even taken the time to get off one's horse to give the issue more careful consideration).
take somebody to the cleaners - To cheat or swindle one for a lot or all of their money.)
93.(Answer - A. Only M and N
take one to task - To scold, reprimand, lecture, or hold one accountable for some wrong or error
they committed.
a look-see - A very brief look, glance, or examination.
have a gas - To have a thoroughly entertaining, enjoyable, and/or amusing time.

But, statement II is talking about landing up with difficulties.)
94.(Answer - C. Only O
a night on the tiles - A night out.

But, statement II is talking about an exciting adventure.
day lark - A person who is more energetic and active during the day than at night.
But, statement II is talking about being a night owl.
a nine days' wonder - Something that generates interest for only a short amount of time.
transient - something lasting for a short time.)
95.(Answer - A. A
If you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements B, C and D are talking about
the habitation of scorpions.

256
While, statement A is talking about a particular species of scorpions and its deadly feature.)
These two statements are talking about the habitation of scorpions.
Statement a is talking about the hunting feature of scorpions.)
97.(Answer - B. B
This is slightly difficult. All the statements are talking about the detrimental health effects of
consuming soft drinks.
But, if you read all the statements carefully, you'll see that statements A, C and D are talking
about the detrimental health effects of consuming soft drinks being controversial.
That means, these statements don't clearly say that soft drinks consumption is bad for your
health in a proven way.
However, statement B is talking about a scientific finding. It's backed by evidence. And also,
its tone is assertive.
warranted - justified.
unfounded - having no foundation or basis in fact.)
98.(Answer - E. None of a, b and c
Statements a and b are talking about scientific findings. They're backed by evidence.
That means, these statements will be the ODD statements.
c - Incorrect. It's totally contrary to what has been said in the passage. This is partially
against the fact that soft drinks are harmful.)
99.(Answer - B. adbec
The Calcutta High Court reportedly found that the EC’s affidavit was ‘unable to update’ the court on
what has been done to enforce Covid-19 guidelines in campaigns and poll booths, and asked it to file
a shorter one.)
100.(Answer - B. daceb

257
A butterfly's ability to absorb or reflect heat from the sun with its wings could be a matter of life and
death in a warming world, according to a British research published Thursday calling for gardens,
parks and farms to host shady, cooling-off spots.)

English Vijeta Series

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

English Vijeta Series

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 2

You'll only need to carry on practising consistently, as steady and

Your invaluable suggestions are heartily welcome, as we believe in

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 3

ABOUT NIMISHA BANSAL

She is not only a highly-competent pedagog, but also a wonderful

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 4

Getting a government job isn't a child's play nowadays. One must go

So, how can goals be accomplished?

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 5

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 6

Finally, the temptation to give up is a common one, and nobody is

With love and lots of blessings,

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 7

Ishika Saini (SBI PO 2021-2022)

ISHIKA SAINI : Thank You so much mam! It was really unexpected,

ISHIKA SAINI : I mainly focused on the things I had command on like

3. How important and instrumental have Nimisha ma'am's various

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 8

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 9

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

7. What would you like to say to fellow aspirants?

ISHIKA SAINI : My aim was to clear this exam. So I completed my

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 10

S.No. Chapter Name Page no

3 PARAJUMBLE 85- 125

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 11

1. CHAPTER - READING COMPREHENSION

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 12

2. How significant is Shree and Rockwell’s win in your opinion?

3. What does Shree’s novel signify?

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 13

a. digitising the court’s records

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 14

Which of the following statements will contradict the above statement?

A. Only a and b B. Only b C. Only b and c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 15

a. In order to be lucrative the art must be benign.

A. Only a B. Only b C. Only c D. All a, b and c E. None of a, b and c

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 16

a. Russia is too big to be replaced as a supplier.

a. An energy shock is inevitably followed by a food price shock.

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 17

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 18

Use Code NIMISHA for maximum Discount

For any query call or whatsapp 9953592800 19

Direction(18-21): In the following question, a THEME followed by three passages is given.

18. Theme - Whims of Weather

19. Theme - Child labour issues and challenges