Civil Engineering : General aptitude, THE GATE ACADEMY

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Contents General Aptitude

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Chapter Page No.

#1. Vocabulary Based – Synonyms and Antonyms 1-10 Theory + Examples 1

Assignment Questions 2-6

Answer Keys 7

Explanations 7-10

#2. Odd Man Out 11-16 Theory + Examples 11


Answer Keys 14

Explanations 14-16

#3. Analogies 17-25 Theory + Examples 17


Answer Keys 22

Explanations 22-25

#4. Multiple Usage 26-36 Theory + Examples 26-27


Answer Keys 35

Explanations 35-36

#5. Grammar Brush-Up 37-43 Theory + Examples 37-43

#6. Fill In The Blanks 44-58

Theory + Examples 44


Answer Keys 53

Explanations 53-58 #7. Sentence Correction 59-67

Theory + Examples 59


Answer Keys 65

Explanations 65-67

Contents General Aptitude

THE GATE ACADEMY PVT.LTD. H.O.: #74, Keshava Krupa (third Floor), 30th Cross, 10th Main, Jayanagar 4th Block, Bangalore-11 : 080-65700750, [email protected] © Copyright reserved. Web: www.thegateacademy.com Page II

#8. Jumbled Paragraphs 68-89

Theory + Examples 68- 69


Answer Keys 83

Explanations 83-89

#9. Reading Comprehension 90-112

Theory 90


Answer Keys 109

Explanations 109-112

Module Test 113-126 Test Questions 113-121

Answer Keys 122

Explanations 122-126

Appendix 1 127-162

High Frequency Words and their Meanings 127-162

Chapter 1 General Aptitude

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CHAPTER 1

Vocabulary Based – Synonyms and Antonyms

These are the most common type of verbal questions that can be asked in any exam. These are simple to understand but can be answered only when the meaning of the words are known. We’ll look into the different formats of these questions, so that we can get an overview of how these questions can be framed. However, objective remains the same i.e. to test your vocabulary.

Synonym Based: The student has to identify the words closest in meaning.

For Example

Select the most suitable synonym for the main word or the group of words.

1. PANACEA (A) Wonder (B) Elixir (C) Placebo (D) Honey Option (B) is the most suited answer as elixir and panacea both means ‘cure-all’.

2. A polite word for something shocking (A) Plexus (B) Pleonasm (C) Aphorism (D) Euphemism Option (D) is most appropriate as ‘euphemism’ means to replace harsh word with a polite one.

Antonym Based: Student has to identify the word which is opposite in meaning.

For Example:

Select the most suitable antonym for the main word or group of words.

1. CRUDE (A) CRUEL (B) SOPHISTICATED (C) MALEVOLENT (D) PRIMEVAL Here Option (B) is most suited.

2. Select the pair which is opposite in meaning 1. DIGNITY 2. DISCORD 3. STRIFE 4. AGREEMENT (A) 2 – 3 (B) 1 – 3 (C) 2 – 4 (D) 1 – 4

Here, option (C) is most suited as ‘discord’ means disagreement.



Assignment

Direction for questions 1 to 5: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided. Pick

the word from the alternatives given, which is closet in meaning in the given context.

1. The police officer appears oblivious to the opprobrium generated by his blatantly partisan

conduct.

(A) Harsh criticism

(B) Acute distrust

(C) Bitter enmity

(D) Stark oppressiveness

2. It appears to many that the US “war on terrorism” portends trouble in the Gulf

(A) Introduces

(B) Evokes

(C) Spells

(D) Bodes

3. When a videotape of her meeting was played back to her and she was asked to explain her

presence there, she started prevaricating

(A) Speaking evasively

(B) Speaking violently

(C) Lying furiously

(D) Throwing a tantrum

4. The Crowd became restive when the minister failed to appear even by 10 p.m.

(A) Violent

(B) Angry

(C) Restless

(D) Distressed

5. Manohar’s ostensible job was to guard the building at night

(A) Apparent

(B) Blatant

(C) Ostentatious

(D) Insidious

Directions for questions 6 to 10: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided.

Pick the word from the alternatives given, that is most inappropriate in the given context.

6. Many human beings live with the illusion that their problems are insurmountable, and

continue to blame their destiny.

(A) fact

(B) image

(C) clarity

(D) deadlock

7. The professor was famous for his discursive lectures.

(A) rambling

(B) laconic

(C) brief

(D) boring

8. Marilyn Monroe initially rose to fame by posing for some lewd photographs.

(A) decent

(B) moral

(C) lustful

(D) loose

9. The audience fled the hall as his crass cacophony began to sound over the speakers.

(A) jarring sound

(B) music

(C) melody

(D) voice



10. He averred that we can definitely manifest our highest potential within his lifetime if we

only care to bring out a great inner change.

(A) erred

(B) went on

(C) affirmed

(D) discussed

Directions for questions 11 to 15: Each question has a sentence with one word underlined.

Identify the meaning of the underlined word from among the four alternatives and mark its

number as answer.

11. The Minister got an overwhelming encore when he finished his song.

(A) stone-pelting

(B) garlanding

(C) call for repletion

(D) financial help

12. The actor’s sitting room was luxurious and flamboyant.

(A) costly

(B) congested

(C) ostentatious

(D) elevated

13. At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties.

(A) monetary

(B) business

(C) minor

(D) professional

14. I left the letter on her bed and went to sleep, exhausted from sobbing.

(A) tired

(B) burnt

(C) vexed

(D) faint

15. What she did was a manifestation of her frustration.

(A) expression

(B) desire

(C) wishes

(D) aim

Direction for questions 16 to 25: From the given options, choose the word that is closest in

meaning to the word given in the question.

16. Acrimony

(A) Tenderness

(B) Slow

(C) Exonerate

(D) Virulence

17. Beguile

(A) Apprise

(B) Stupidity

(C) Convict

(D) Hoodwink

18. Exalt

(A) Expand

(B) Extol

(C) Enforce

(D) Entangle

19. Quandary

(A) Dilemma

(B) Sullen

(C) Mitigate

(D) Diffident



20. Rapacious

(A) Meek

(B) Cunning

(C) Voracious

(D) Articulate

21. Goad

(A) Good

(B) Spur

(C) Beat

(D) Cattle

22. Sacrilege

(A) Blasphemy

(B) Sacrifice

(C) Surrender

(D) Kill

23. Twirl

(A) Twinkle

(B) Entangle

(C) Twist

(D) Tug

24. Wharf

(A) Dock

(B) Whiff

(C) Conspiracy

(D) Ship

25. Beatific

(A) Beautiful

(B) Beau

(C) Bawdy

(D) Celestial

Direction for questions 26 to 40: From the given options, choose the word that is closest to the

opposite meaning of the word given in the question.

26. Disconcert

(A) Fluster

(B) Hearten

(C) Perturb

(D) Abash

27. Abeyance

(A) Abbey

(B) Assent

(C) Continuation

(D) Abet

28. Fracas

(A) Concurrence

(B) Fray

(C) Quarrel

(D) Dilemma

29. Assiduous

(A) Persevering

(B) Caring

(C) Indolent

(D) Intelligent



30. Slander

(A) Malign

(B) Traduce

(C) Soft spoken

(D) Praise

31. IMMACULATE

(A) Unclean

(B) Immobile

(C) Motherly

(D) Accumulated

32. AGGRAVATE

(A) Segregate

(B) Adulterate

(C) Ameliorate

(D) Accommodate

33. IGNOMINIOUS

(A) Crooked

(B) Dishonest

(C) Ominous

(D) Laudable

34. COGNIZANT

(A) Observant

(B) Perceptive

(C) Conscious

(D) Oblivious

35. DULL

(A) Monstrous

(B) Fascinating

(C) Horrid

(D) Ghastly

36. IMPUDENT

(A) Rude

(B) Courteous

(C) Impertinent

(D) Insolent

37. NOVICE

(A) Adept

(B) Dilettante

(C) Amateur

(D) Greenhorn

38. Awkwardness

(A) Aplomb

(B) Acumen

(C) Base

(D) Agile

39. Depressed

(A) Dull

(B) Daring

(C) Buoyant

(D) Aggressive

40. Urbane

(A) Aggressive

(B) Bolster

(C) Bucolic

(D) Sophisticated



Directions for questions 41 to 45: For each of the words below, a contextual usage is provided.

Pick the word from the alternatives given, that is most inappropriate in the given context.

41. A specious argument is not simply a false one but one that has the ring of truth.

(A) Deceitful

(B) Fallacious

(C) Credible

(D) Deceptive

42. The new mass transit system may obviate the need for the use of personal cars

(A) Prevent

(B) Forestall

(C) Preclude

(D) Bolster

43. Some words fall into disuse as technology makes objects obsolete

(A) Prevalent

(B) Discarded

(C) Obliterated

(D) Unfashionable

44. The evidence was constructed from very parsimonious scraps of information

(A) Frugal

(B) Penurious

(C) Thrifty

(D) Altruistic

45. When I suggested that war is a method of controlling population, my father remarked that

I was being facetious

(A) Jovian

(B) Jovial

(C) Jocular

(D) Joking



Answer Keys & Explanations

Answer Keys 1 A 2 D 3 A 4 C 5 A 6 B 7 A 8 C 9 A 10 C

11 C 12 C 13 A 14 A 15 A 16 D 17 D 18 B 19 A 20 C

21 B 22 A 23 C 24 A 25 D 26 B 27 C 28 A 29 C 30 D

31 A 32 C 33 D 34 D 35 B 36 B 37 A 38 A 39 C 40 C

41 C 42 D 43 A 44 D 45 A

Explanations: 1. [Ans. A]

Harsh criticism means the same as opprobrium or scorn.

2. [Ans. D]

Portend means a sign or warning and Bodes means to bring about some outcome.

3. [Ans. A]

Prevaricate means to act or speak evasively.

4. [Ans. C]

Restive means unable to keep still, same as restless.

5. [Ans. A]

Ostensible means anything that is apparently true.

6. [Ans. B]

An illusion is a deception, a false mental representation of facts which are not true.

7. [Ans. A]

A discursive lecture is wordy and rambling. It digresses from the main point to cover a

vast range of subjects.

8. [Ans. C]

Lewd implies something obscene, driven by lust or with exhibiting lustful desires.

9. [Ans. A]

A crass cacophony is a harsh, unrefined jarring sound.

10. [Ans. C]

To aver is to solemnly declare or affirm something as formally true.

11. [Ans. C]

12. [Ans. C]

Education

Civil Engineering : General aptitude, THE GATE ACADEMY