Part 9: Practice Section

Free study material · concepts, shortcuts & solved questions

Select any text to highlight or save it

One hundred original questions covering synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, fill-in-the-blanks, idiom/proverb meaning, and confusing pairs, drawn from the words covered above. Attempt all questions before checking the answer key at the end. Questions 1–50 draw mainly on the core tiers; questions 51–100 draw on the expanded material added in this edition — the Tier 4 words, the extension sets, the new substitution categories, and the proverbs.

Section A — Synonyms (Q1–10). Choose the word closest in meaning to the word given.

AUTHENTIC — (a) fake (b) genuine (c) rare (d) hidden
METICULOUS — (a) careless (b) thorough (c) hurried (d) generous
LUCID — (a) confusing (b) dim (c) clear (d) loud
ARDUOUS — (a) easy (b) strenuous (c) short (d) pleasant
MAGNANIMOUS — (a) petty (b) generous (c) shy (d) angry
AMELIORATE — (a) worsen (b) ignore (c) improve (d) delay
STRINGENT — (a) lenient (b) strict (c) casual (d) slow
ELOQUENT — (a) silent (b) articulate (c) rude (d) confused
CANDID — (a) secretive (b) frank (c) formal (d) shy
TANGIBLE — (a) abstract (b) concrete (c) invisible (d) rare

Section B — Antonyms (Q11–20). Choose the word most opposite in meaning.

TRIVIAL — (a) minor (b) significant (c) small (d) brief
VOLATILE — (a) unstable (b) stable (c) chemical (d) sudden
GENEROUS — (a) kind (b) stingy (c) wealthy (d) helpful
RETICENT — (a) quiet (b) reserved (c) talkative (d) shy
PRUDENT — (a) careful (b) wise (c) reckless (d) calm
OBSOLETE — (a) outdated (b) old (c) current (d) worn
CANDID — (a) frank (b) honest (c) evasive (d) direct
LENIENT — (a) mild (b) strict (c) kind (d) gentle
IMPECCABLE — (a) perfect (b) flawless (c) flawed (d) clean
AUGMENT — (a) increase (b) add (c) diminish (d) expand

Section C — One-Word Substitution (Q21–30). Choose the correct single word for each phrase.

A person who studies and treats diseases of the mind — (a) Psychologist (b) Psychiatrist (c) Neurologist (d) Therapist
One who can use both hands with equal skill — (a) Versatile (b) Ambidextrous (c) Adept (d) Skilful
A place where weapons are stored — (a) Armoury (b) Arsenal (c) Barracks (d) Depot
To give up a throne voluntarily — (a) Resign (b) Retire (c) Abdicate (d) Renounce
Impossible to understand — (a) Illegible (b) Incomprehensible (c) Invisible (d) Indelible
A written statement made under oath — (a) Testimony (b) Affidavit (c) Deposition (d) Declaration
A speech delivered without prior preparation — (a) Impromptu (b) Extempore (c) Spontaneous (d) Verbatim
Handwriting that cannot be read — (a) Indecipherable (b) Illegible (c) Obscure (d) Cryptic
Money paid regularly to a retired employee — (a) Gratuity (b) Pension (c) Stipend (d) Annuity
A remedy claimed to cure all problems — (a) Antidote (b) Panacea (c) Elixir (d) Remedy

Section D — Fill in the Blanks (Q31–40). Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

The committee decided to ______ the outdated circular after repeated objections from staff. (a) enact (b) rescind (c) endorse (d) draft
Her ______ approach to budgeting kept the department solvent through the slowdown. (a) frugal (b) lavish (c) careless (d) extravagant
The two reports ______ significantly, prompting a fresh review. (a) agreed (b) matched (c) diverged (d) corresponded
He remained ______ despite the panel's repeated attempts to unsettle him. (a) anxious (b) composed (c) restless (d) agitated
The new rule is expected to ______ processing time by half. (a) increase (b) reduce (c) delay (d) complicate
It would be ______ to assume selection before the final list is out. (a) modest (b) presumptuous (c) cautious (d) reasonable
The officer's ______ explanation cleared up every doubt in the room. (a) obscure (b) lucid (c) vague (d) confusing
Despite the setback, the team stayed ______ about meeting the deadline. (a) sanguine (b) despondent (c) indifferent (d) hostile
The audit ______ a serious anomaly in last year's accounts. (a) concealed (b) uncovered (c) ignored (d) approved
A ______ use of the last ten minutes helped her review every answer. (a) careless (b) judicious (c) hasty (d) reckless

Section E — Idiom Meaning (Q41–50). Choose the correct meaning of the idiom.

"Back to square one" means — (a) a fresh opportunity (b) returning to the starting point (c) a final decision (d) a quick success
"Bite the bullet" means — (a) to avoid a problem (b) to complain loudly (c) to face a hard situation bravely (d) to celebrate early
"Cut corners" means — (a) to work carefully (b) to save time or money by lowering standards (c) to finish early (d) to argue constantly
"Draw a blank" means — (a) to succeed easily (b) to fail to recall something (c) to win a prize (d) to make a plan
"Get cold feet" means — (a) to feel unwell (b) to become nervous before doing something (c) to travel far (d) to relax completely
"In a nutshell" means — (a) in great detail (b) briefly and concisely (c) with much confusion (d) after a long delay
"Leave no stone unturned" means — (a) to give up quickly (b) to try every possible way (c) to work carelessly (d) to hide information
"On the fence" means — (a) fully decided (b) undecided between two options (c) very confident (d) completely wrong
"Turn a blind eye" means — (a) to notice everything (b) to deliberately ignore something (c) to look closely (d) to correct a mistake
"With flying colours" means — (a) with great success (b) with much difficulty (c) with visible anger (d) with total failure

Section F — Tier 4 Synonyms (Q51–60). Choose the word closest in meaning.

NASCENT — (a) mature (b) emerging (c) declining (d) hidden
TACIT — (a) explicit (b) implicit (c) loud (d) formal
INTRACTABLE — (a) manageable (b) unmanageable (c) simple (d) minor
UNTENABLE — (a) defensible (b) indefensible (c) strong (d) reasonable
EFFICACIOUS — (a) ineffective (b) effective (c) doubtful (d) slow
PARITY — (a) inequality (b) equality (c) difference (d) shortage
QUOTIDIAN — (a) rare (b) extraordinary (c) everyday (d) sudden
IRASCIBLE — (a) calm (b) irritable (c) generous (d) shy
OBSEQUIOUS — (a) assertive (b) fawning (c) honest (d) distant
LATENT — (a) active (b) visible (c) dormant (d) obvious

Section G — Tier 4 Antonyms (Q61–70). Choose the word most opposite in meaning.

OPAQUE — (a) unclear (b) dense (c) transparent (d) dark
SUPERSEDE — (a) replace (b) retain (c) overtake (d) cancel
ORTHODOXY — (a) convention (b) tradition (c) heterodoxy (d) belief
INCONTROVERTIBLE — (a) certain (b) proven (c) debatable (d) clear
DISSONANCE — (a) discord (b) conflict (c) harmony (d) noise
HEGEMONY — (a) dominance (b) control (c) subordination (d) power
IMMUTABLE — (a) fixed (b) permanent (c) changeable (d) stable
GENUINE (recall from Tier 1) — (a) authentic (b) real (c) fake (d) sincere
MULTIFARIOUS — (a) diverse (b) varied (c) uniform (d) numerous
COUNTERVAILING — (a) offsetting (b) opposing (c) reinforcing (d) balancing

Section H — One-Word Substitution, New Categories (Q71–80). Choose the correct single word.

A court order compelling a person to do or stop doing something — (a) Summons (b) Injunction (c) Decree (d) Warrant
A person accused of a crime in a court of law — (a) Plaintiff (b) Defendant (c) Witness (d) Litigant
Government by a small, powerful, self-interested group — (a) Democracy (b) Monarchy (c) Oligarchy (d) Theocracy
An irrational fear of enclosed spaces — (a) Agoraphobia (b) Claustrophobia (c) Xenophobia (d) Acrophobia
A disease that spreads across a large region or the whole world — (a) Endemic (b) Epidemic (c) Pandemic (d) Chronic
Freedom from prosecution granted to a witness or offender — (a) Parole (b) Immunity (c) Bail (d) Acquittal
The scientific study of heredity and variation in organisms — (a) Biology (b) Genetics (c) Pathology (d) Anatomy
The illegal seizure of power in a state, usually by the military — (a) Revolution (b) Coup (c) Mutiny (d) Rebellion
A substance that counteracts the effects of a poison — (a) Antibiotic (b) Vaccine (c) Antidote (d) Serum
One who settles permanently in a foreign country — (a) Emigrant (b) Migrant (c) Immigrant (d) Expatriate

Section I — Confusing Pairs and Proverbs (Q81–90). Choose the correct option.

Farmers grew ______ to the scheme once its ______ effects on soil became clear. (a) adverse / averse (b) averse / adverse (c) adverse / adverse (d) averse / averse
"A stitch in time saves nine" means — (a) time heals everything (b) timely action prevents bigger problems (c) nine attempts are needed (d) sewing is important
He was ______ to admit that he had come to ______ the daily commute. (a) loathe / loath (b) loath / loathe (c) loath / loath (d) loathe / loathe
"Necessity is the mother of invention" means — (a) inventions are accidental (b) difficult situations often force creative solutions (c) mothers are inventive (d) necessity has no value
Public ______ to the record room was restricted after an ______ of visitors caused overcrowding. (a) access / excess (b) excess / access (c) access / access (d) excess / excess
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch" warns against — (a) buying poultry early (b) planning on the basis of something not yet certain (c) counting mistakes (d) hatching a secret plan
The ward ______ referred the anxious student to a career ______. (a) counsellor / councillor (b) councillor / counsellor (c) councillor / councillor (d) counsellor / counsellor
"Empty vessels make the most noise" means — (a) loud people are usually right (b) people with the least knowledge often talk the loudest (c) noise is unavoidable (d) vessels should be kept full
He ______ from his home state to ______ into a booming coastal city. (a) immigrated / emigrated (b) emigrated / immigrated (c) emigrated / emigrated (d) immigrated / immigrated
"Strike while the iron is hot" means — (a) act at the most favourable moment (b) avoid taking risks (c) work only when necessary (d) wait for the right tools

Section J — Mixed Review (Q91–100). Choose the best answer.

Which word means "a natural tendency to behave a certain way"? (a) Aversion (b) Propensity (c) Reluctance (d) Constraint
Which is the antonym of MERCURIAL? (a) volatile (b) stable (c) unpredictable (d) fickle
Which word means "to formally repeal or do away with"? (a) Enact (b) Abrogate (c) Endorse (d) Ratify
"Once bitten, twice shy" is best used when someone — (a) acts recklessly again (b) becomes cautious after a bad experience (c) forgets a past mistake (d) blames someone else
Which word means "existing but not yet developed or manifest"? (a) Latent (b) Overt (c) Explicit (d) Evident
Which is the correct one-word substitution for "a person who studies the origin and history of words"? (a) Linguist (b) Philologist (c) Etymologist (d) Lexicographer
Which word means "excessively eager to please or obey"? (a) Assertive (b) Obsequious (c) Defiant (d) Reluctant
"The pen is mightier than the sword" suggests that — (a) writing is easier than fighting (b) communication can be more powerful than force (c) swords are outdated (d) pens are physically stronger
Which word is closest in meaning to PERSPICACIOUS? (a) Obtuse (b) Astute (c) Naive (d) Careless
Which word means "a state of temporary suspension"? (a) Abeyance (b) Continuation (c) Conclusion (d) Extension

Answer Key

(b) genuine
(b) thorough
(c) clear
(b) strenuous
(b) generous
(c) improve
(b) strict
(b) articulate
(b) frank
(b) concrete
(b) significant
(b) stable
(b) stingy
(c) talkative
(c) reckless
(c) current
(c) evasive
(b) strict
(c) flawed
(c) diminish
(b) Psychiatrist
(b) Ambidextrous
(b) Arsenal
(c) Abdicate
(b) Incomprehensible
(b) Affidavit
(b) Extempore
(b) Illegible
(b) Pension
(b) Panacea
(b) rescind
(a) frugal
(c) diverged
(b) composed
(b) reduce
(b) presumptuous
(b) lucid
(a) sanguine
(b) uncovered
(b) judicious
(b) returning to the starting point
(c) to face a hard situation bravely
(b) to save time or money by lowering standards
(b) to fail to recall something
(b) to become nervous before doing something
(b) briefly and concisely
(b) to try every possible way
(b) undecided between two options
(b) to deliberately ignore something
(a) with great success
(b) emerging
(b) implicit
(b) unmanageable
(b) indefensible
(b) effective
(b) equality
(c) everyday
(b) irritable
(b) fawning
(c) dormant
(c) transparent
(b) retain
(c) heterodoxy
(c) debatable
(c) harmony
(c) subordination
(c) changeable
(c) fake
(c) uniform
(c) reinforcing
(b) Injunction
(b) Defendant
(c) Oligarchy
(b) Claustrophobia
(c) Pandemic
(b) Immunity
(b) Genetics
(b) Coup
(c) Antidote
(c) Immigrant
(b) averse / adverse
(b) timely action prevents bigger problems
(b) loath / loathe
(b) difficult situations often force creative solutions
(a) access / excess
(b) planning on the basis of something not yet certain
(b) councillor / counsellor
(b) people with the least knowledge often talk the loudest
(b) emigrated / immigrated
(a) act at the most favourable moment
(b) Propensity
(b) stable
(b) Abrogate
(b) becomes cautious after a bad experience
(a) Latent
(c) Etymologist
(b) Obsequious
(b) communication can be more powerful than force
(b) Astute
(a) Abeyance

Page 1 of 1

← Chapter 10 TOC Index Chapter 12 →