Directions (1- 10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on a person's health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. In other words, it means to be dangerously overweight. Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century.
To know if a person is overweight, the body mass index (BMI) is calculated, by dividing the weight (in kilograms) by the height of the person in meters, squared (multiplied by itself). This is only meant for adults who are fully grown and should not be used for children. In children, a healthy weight varies with age and gender. Obesity in children and adolescents is defined not as an absolute number but in relation to a historical normal group.
A BMI between 20 and 24 is considered normal. People with a BMI of 24 or more are said to be overweight; with 30 and above, they are considered obese, and with 35 and above, they are considered severely obese (this used to be called morbidly obese). In general, the BMI number is a good quantifiable measurement of a person's obesity, however it is a poor predictor in people who are very athletic, because a person with a higher than average amount of muscle tissue will weigh more than an average person, thus resulting in a BMI that is higher than normal, even if that person is very large fat people of America. Someone who is 1.75m tall, and has a weight of 80 kg, would have a BMI of 80 / 3.0625. This gives a BMI of 26.12. He or she would therefore be considered overweight.
Obesity is usually helped by diet (being careful about what food to eat) and exercise. Some people also use weight loss programs. In severe cases, drugs can be given. In very severe cases, weight-loss surgery can be done. Obesity usually occurs because of over-eating and lack of enough exercise and is easily treated by not eating so much food.
Many cultures throughout history viewed obesity as the result of a character flaw. The obesus or fat character in Greek comedy was a glutton and figure of mockery. In fact, the Greeks were the first to recognize obesity as a medical disorder. Hippocrates said, "Corpulence is not only a disease itself, but the harbinger of others". It was known to the Indian surgeon Sushruta (6th century BCE), who related obesity to diabetes and heart disorder. He recommended physical work to help cure it and its side effects.
During Christian times food was viewed as a gateway to the sins of sloth and lust. But, for much of human history mankind struggled with food scarcity, and so obesity has sometimes been viewed as a sign of wealth and prosperity. It was common among high officials in Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as well as in Ancient East Asian civilizations. With the onset of the industrial revolution it was realized that the military and economic might of nations were dependent on both the body size and strength of their soldiers and workers. Increasing the average body mass index from what is now considered underweight to what is now the normal range played a significant role in the development of industrialized societies. Height and weight thus both increased through the 19th century in the developed world. During the 20th century, as populations reached their genetic potential for height, weight began increasing much more than height, resulting in obesity. In the 1950s increasing wealth in the developed world decreased child mortality, but as body weight increased heart and kidney disease became more common.
1. The BMI number is a good quantifiable measurement of a person's obesity but it has certain limitations. Justify.

A. BMI measurement gives inaccurate results above a certain weight. B. BMI measurement does not hold good for elderly people. C. BMI measurement is a poor indicator of obesity for athletes. D. BMI measurement varies with gender. E. All are true

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Refer the third paragraph of the passage “In general, the BMI number is a good quantifiable measurement of a person's obesity, however it is a poor predictor in people who are very athletic”
2. What makes the BMI measure higher than normal for athletic people?

A. As their body weights vary at different period of time according to their physical work. B. As their muscle tissue is higher than the average amount C. As they consume diet more than an average person. D. Both A and C E. All are correct

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Refer the last few lines of the third paragraph of the passage, “In general, the BMI number is a good quantifiable measurement of a person's obesity, however it is a poor predictor in people who are very athletic, because a person with a higher than average amount of muscle tissue will weigh more than an average person, thus resulting in a BMI that is higher than normal
3. As per the passage, how can obesity be prevented in people?

A. diet B. surgery C. weight loss programs D. Only A and C E. All A, B and C

Answer: Option E
Explanation: All of the given options are correct. Refer the fourth paragraph of the passage.
4. Obesity has sometimes been viewed as a sign of wealth and prosperity. Why?

A. Obesity is a problem that requires lots of money for its treatment. B. As only wealthy people are susceptible to obesity. C. As food was scarce and not everyone could afford it in abundance. D. Both B and C E. All are correct.

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Refer the first few lines of sixth paragraph, “But, for much of human history mankind struggled with food scarcity, and so obesity has sometimes been viewed as a sign of wealth and prosperity”
5. In the developed world, which of the following is/ are the shift(s) that were seen during the 19th and 20th century?
I. Increase in the average body mass index. II. Decrease in the child mortality. III. Increase in the heart and kidney diseases.

A. Only (I) B. Only (II) C. Both (I) and (II) D. Both (II) and (III) E. All are correct

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Refer the last few lines of last paragraph of the paragraph.
6. Which of the following cannot be inferred from the passage above?

A. Europeans were the first to recognize obesity as a medical disorder. B. Obesity is a one of the serious problem nowadays seen in children and adults. C. Food is often regarded as the factor of sins of sloth and lust. D. People with their BMI being 30 or more are obese. E. Both body size and strength played a significant role for the development of industrialized society.

Answer: Option A
Explanation: cannot be inferred from the passage.
Directions (7-8): Choose the word/group of words which is most SIMILAR in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in passage.
7. Sloth

A. Onerous B. Indolence C. dour D. eclectic E. congruity

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Sloth means reluctance to work or make an effort, laziness. Hence it has same meaning as indolence. Congruity means the quality of agreeing, being suitable and appropriate. Eclectic means selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas. Dour means showing a brooding ill humour. Onerous means not easily borne, wearing.
8. Glutton

A. antithesis B. construe C. disparate D. gourmand E. Dispel

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Glutton means an excessively greedy eater. Hence it has same meaning as gourmand. Dispel means to cause to separate and go in different directions. Disparate means fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind. Antithesis means exact opposite. Construe means make sense of, assign a meaning to.
Directions (9-10): Choose the word/group of words which is most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in passage.
9. Prevalence

A. cognizant B. bane C. bereft D. peculiar E. amenable

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Prevalence means the fact or condition of being prevalent, commonness. Hence it has opposite meaning as peculiar. Amenable means disposed or willing to comply. Bane means something causing misery or death. Bereft means sorrowful through loss or deprivation. Cognizant means having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization.
10. Accumulated

A. assembled B. aggregate C. concentrate D. gather E. separated

Answer: Option E
Explanation: Accumulate: gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.

Directions (1-10): In the passage given below there are blanks which are numbered from 1 to 10. They are to be filled with the options given below the passage against each of the respective numbers. Find out the appropriate word in each case which can most suitably complete the sentence without altering its meaning.
As we have kept on burning more and more of organic fuel, such as coal and crude oil, over the last century ----------(1) the world, the amount of the oxidation product, carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere has reached ---------(2). levels, causing global warming and climate change. Given this scenario, why not capture the CO2 from the atmosphere and (3) ............. it into something inescapable, such as solid carbonate rocks? Such direct air capture of the gas and converting it from the biosphere to the geosphere (as rocks and minerals) has been done by a company in Switzerland, called Climeworks. They have (4)--------- a plant in Iceland, where they bury CO2 into solid calcium carbonate (CaCO3) rocks, just as basalt; they also sell the CO2 to greenhouses and beverage makers.
An even better method would be to convert it back into hydrocarbon fuel through a (5)-------- reaction, a process termed as air to fuel or A2F. And a group of scientists led by Dr David Keith of Harvard have put together a company called “Carbon Engineering”, with such a conversion of DAC into A2F. They have (6)------------ their latest paper in the journal Joule last month. Incidentally, the name of the journal is (7) --------- since a unit of energy in the international system of units is a joule, named after the English physicist James P. Joule).
The team has been working for the last several years on this problem. What is being done is to capture the undesirable product CO2, run it through a reactor in an (8) -------- manner and use it to combine with hydrogen (obtained through electrolysis of water) and generate the hydrocarbon fuel. The whole process is what is termed as ‘carbon-neutral-fuel production’ by them.
Capturing CO2 from (9)-------- air itself is not new. As the authors point out, this was attempted as early as the 1950s, as a pre-treatment of air; and in the 1960s, it was attempted to use as feedstock for the production of hydrocarbon fuels in mobile nuclear power plants. What Carbon Engineering has done is to describe the nuts and bolts of the process, the engineering steps, and the cost-benefit analysis. Their claim is that it should be possible to make the process as (10) -------- as anywhere between US $50-100 per ton of CO2 captured by DAC.
1.

A. beside B. across C. since D. on E. rest

Answer: Option B
Explanation: 'across' is grammatically and contextually correct here.
2.

A. increase B. deflating C. alarming D. distress E. startle

Answer: Option C
Explanation: 'alarming' means worrying or disturbing and is grammatically and contextually correct here.
3.

A. divert B. reversed C. addressed D. convert E. stagnate

Answer: Option D
Explanation: 'convert' makes the sentence grammatically and contextually correct and meaningful.
4.

A. put in B. put off C. put up D. put out E. put

Answer: Option C
Explanation: 'Put up' is correct. If people put up a wall, building, tent, or other structure, they construct it so that it is upright.
5.

A. reverse B. back C. rage D. stagnate E. contradict

Answer: Option A
Explanation: As 'back' is used before the blank so 'reverse' will be the correct choice.
6.

A. publish B. reports C. published D. concealed E. withhold

Answer: Option C
Explanation: 'published' is grammatically and contextually correct here.
7.

A. apt B. fitted C. correction D. relevance E. disinclination

Answer: Option A
Explanation: 'Apt' means appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.
8.

A. energize B. systematic C. efficient D. potent E. economic

Answer: Option C
Explanation: 'efficient' is grammatically and contextually correct here.
9.

A. circulate B. obdurate C. berate D. flow E. ambient

Answer: Option E
Explanation: 'Ambient' means relating to the immediate surroundings of something.
10.

A. practicality B. works C. viable D. possibility E. Both B and C

Answer: Option C
Explanation: 'Viable' means capable of working successfully; feasible

Directions (1-5): Rearrange the following sentences to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below them.
a. The initiation of the NPA resolution process has brought in a certain degree of rigour, but it still lacks the credibility to be called a bold or successful initiative.
b. The RBI is doing its best, and even stepping into executive functions like scrutinizing NPA accounts and issuing directives to banks.
c. It should evaluate the bottlenecks within its domain and bring in the appropriate enablers to help resolve the NPAs at the earliest.
d. As they say, you can lead a horse to water, but cannot force it to drink.
e. The banks are taking the required actions to the extent of their respective abilities and governing atmosphere.
f. However, the government has not yet stepped up to the requirements.
1. Which of the following is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph so formed?

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

Answer: Option E
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is daebfc.
2. Which of the following is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph so formed?

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

Answer: Option A
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is daebfc.
3. Which of the following is the SIXTH (LAST) sentence of the paragraph so formed?

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

Answer: Option B
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is daebfc.
4. Which of the following is the SECOND sentence of the paragraph so formed?

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

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is daebfc.
5. Which of the following is the FOURTH sentence of the paragraph so formed?

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

Answer: Option A
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is daebfc.
Directions (6-10): Given below are five sentences (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). These are not in their proper sequence. Rearrange them so as to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the questions given below them.
a. The deep deciduous forests and the catches of all grassland, far removed from civilisation, have become shelter for dangerous terrorists.
b. This same quality, however, which once made Manas such a refreshing change, has now become the cause for major concern.
c. One of Manas’ greatest assets has been its seclusion from human habitation.
d. Their assault on it can be gauged from the fact that, venison is being sold at Rs. 3 to 4 a kg in the villages bordering the forest.
e. Armed with sophisticated as well as crude homemade weapons, they have total disregard for wildlife.
6. Which of the sentences should come FIRST in the sequence ?

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

Answer: Option E
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba.
7. Which of the sentences should come SECOND in the sequence ?

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

Answer: Option D
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba. The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba.
8. Which of the sentences should come THIRD in the sequence ?

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

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba.
9. Which of the sentences should come FOURTH in the sequence ?

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

Answer: Option B
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba.
10. Which of the sentences should come FIFTH in the sequence ?

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

Answer: Option A
Explanation: The correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph is edcba.

Directions (1-10): Read each of the following sentences to find out if there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number (A, B, C or D) of this part is your answer. If there is no error in the statement, then mark option (E) as your answer choice.
1. Siddaramaiah, who was present during the (A)/ search operation said he was not (B)/ camping at the resort and (C)/ had come to the place to having dinner.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Error is in part D. Use 'have' in place of 'having'.
2. High-speed mobile phone Internet service has been stopped. (A)/ Train services have also been suspended. (B)/There was thin traffic on the roads. (C)/Markets, banks and petrol pumps was closed in the morning.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Error is in part D. Use 'were' in place of 'was'.
3. During his visits to the bank, he says, (A)/security personnel used to prevent him from(B)/ even talking to the manager, as he used (C)/ to request him for more time to repay the loan.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option E
Explanation: No Error
4. Mr. Prabakaran, who secured the 101 rank in the (A)/ UPSC civil services examination, have been (B)/ facing financial problems for many years, but never missed (C)/ an opportunity to invest in books in pursuit of his goals.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Error is in part B. 'has' will be used in place of 'have' as the subject is singular.
5. The veteran politician has sought to channel public anger (A)/ against the recent imposition of a goods (B)/ and services tax, portraying the levy as an penalty to recover (C)/ the losses on account of the missing funds.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Error is in part C. Use of 'an' is incorrect and article 'a' is the correct usage.
6. Only the top two at the end of the regular season (A)/ was guaranteed a place in English football's (B)/ lucrative top flight and second-tier title-winners (C)/ Wolves had already secured one of those spots.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Error is in part B. 'were' will be used in place of verb as the subject is plural.
7. The party is acute aware (A)/ that it need to regain (B)/ some lost popularity if it is (C)/ going to make the best of this election. (D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option A
Explanation: Error is in part A. Use 'acutely' in place of 'acute'.
8. The police said they are flexible (A)/ with the timing and location (B)/ of the meeting, whatever is (C)/ convenient for the Chief Minister.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option E
Explanation: No Error
9. In a study done by IIT-Bombay using a driving simulator (A)/ last year, it was find that the risk of accidents (B)/ increased three and four times, depending (C)/ upon whether the driver was talking on a phone. (D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Error is in part B. Use 'found' in place of 'find' as the sentence is in past tense.
10. The approval would increase access to quality higher education (A)/ and help in minimising the regional imbalances in the (B)/ education facilities, besides giving effect (C)/ to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.(D)/

A. A B. B C. C D. D E. No Error

Answer: Option E
Explanation: No Error

Directions(1-10): Identify the words that are similar in meaning to the phrase in bold. If none of the options conveys the correct meaning, mark (E) as your answer. The options do not necessarily need to be grammatically correct.
1. I wanted to enter the competition but at the last minute I got cold feet.

A. Unwell B. Afraid C. Hesitant D. Excited E. None of the above

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Cold feet: If you get cold feet about something, you begin to hesitate about doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not.
2. When she heard the news, she was like a dog with two tails.

A. Very morose B. Very enthusiastic C. Very greedy D. Very happy E. None of the above

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Like a dog with two tails: If someone is like a dog with two tails, they are extremely happy.
3. The atmosphere had become so unpleasant that he decided it was time to clear the air.

A. Reduce pollution B. Discuss openly C. Reveal feelings D. Be untruthful E. None of the above

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Clear the air: If you decide to clear the air, you try to remove the causes of fear, worry or suspicion by talking about the problem openly.
4. The customer said a mouthful when he gave the reason for his dissatisfaction.

A. Lengthy remark B. Angry remark C. Abusive remark D. Precise remark E. None of the above

Answer: Option A
Explanation: Say a mouthful: If you make an important or lengthy remark, you say a mouthful
5. The boss laid it on the line and told Jimmy that if he arrived late for work again he would lose his job.

A. Scold B. Be disappointed C. Speak frankly D. Resigned E. None of the above

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Lay it on the line: If you speak frankly and make something very clear, you lay it on the line.
6. Privatization goes against the grain of their principle of opposition to private ownership of industry

A. Normal B. Abnormal C. In sync D. Disparaging E. None of the above

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Against the grain: If something goes against the grain, it is difficult to accept because it is very different from what is considered normal or natural.
7. The government is dragging its feet on measures to reduce pollution.

A. Prepone something B. Show enthusiasm C. Delay something D. Deteriorating situation E. None of the above

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Dragging one’s feet If you drag your feet, you delay a decision or participate without any real enthusiasm
8. After several disappointments, everything seems to be coming up roses for the tennis player this year.

A. Successful B. Disappointment C. Negative D. Failure E. None of the above

Answer: Option A
Explanation: Coming up roses: If things come up roses, the end result is successful or positive, even if there were difficult times.
9. Funny how you can get a bee in your bonnet about the most unlikely matters.

A. Speak succinctly B. Stay up C. Go wild D. Obsessed with an idea E. None of the above

Answer: Option D
Explanation: A bee in your bonnet: To talk incessantly about something one thinks is important.
10. It was hoped that the testimony of the witnesses would shed light on the causes of the accident.

A. Question B. Justify C. Explain D. Illuminate E. None of the above

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Shed light: If you shed light on something, you help to explain it or make it easier to understand.

Directions(1-5): In each of the following questions a sentence is given with one blank. You have to fill the blank with one of the words given as options in order to make the sentence contextually and grammatically correct.
1. The investigation is at a crucial stage, therefore, if the accused is granted bail at this stage, it will ________ collection of further evidence.

A. impede B. hinder C. obstruct D. hamper E. All of the above

Answer: Option E
Explanation: All the given words are synonyms of obstruct, which means to block something.
2. Bishop’s counsel also ________ that further detention was not needed since he had been interrogated for hours before and after his arrest.

A. ordered B. claimed C. acclaimed D. confessed E. All of the above

Answer: Option B
Explanation: 'Ordered' means is contextually wrong as the counsel of Bishop is not in authority to pass an order. It is the authority of a Judge. 'claimed' means stated, which absolutely fits the blank. 'Acclaimed' means to praise which is also absurd. 'Confessed' means to accept something, whereas here counsel is expressing its opinion. Thus confessed is in contextual.
3. The arrival of tourists to the destination has __________ considerably after the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district.

A. declined B. surged C. enjoyed D. repulsed E. All of the above

Answer: Option A
Explanation: 'Declined' means lessen, which is both grammatically as well contextually correct, as due to dissemination of Nipah virus, arrival of tourists decreased significantly. 'Surged' means increased, which is opposite to the required one. 'Less' is grammatically wrong.
4. The spectacular show by Tata Motors in September clearly indicates that the company’s new generation cars are now finding buyers even in _______ times.

A. dense B. commendatory C. inept D. difficult E. All of the above

Answer: Option D
Explanation: 'Dense' means completely covered or opaque, which is incontextual. 'Commendatory' means favourable, which is also absurd here because the word 'even' indicates a contradictory situation here. 'Inept' means unskillful, which is irrelevant to the context. 'Difficult' clearly suits the context as it justifies the contradicton of Tata motor's good performance inspite of bad time for the industry.
5. A handful of farmers __________ at Kisan Ghat in the morning said that they were there for some mental peace.

A. heaped B. gathered C. squandered D. stacked E. All of the above

Answer: Option B
Explanation: 'Heaped' and 'Stacked' are used to arrange something one above another, which is incontextual. 'Squandered' means to waste something recklessly, which is also absurd here. 'Gathered' means accumulated, which goes well with the context that the farmers were gathered at a certain place.
Directions(6-10): In the question given below, there is one statement, with two blanks. You have to choose the option which provides the correct words that fit in both the blanks and make them meaningful and grammatically correct.
6. As part of the policy on overseas borrowing, RBI and the government should __________ the system of contingent liabilities and see if this needs to be __________ within the framework of capital controls.

A. Check, bought B. Learn, bring C. Review, brought D. Write, carried E. Revised, conduct

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Both words fit in perfectly and grammatically correct.
7. The trade deficit has been growing rapidly, and the capital inflows __________ to fund it could get disrupted in case US monetary policy gets tightened __________ than expected.

A. Mandate, equal B. Needed, more C. Wants, less D. required, higher E. Both B and D

Answer: Option E
Explanation: Both words of Option B and D fit in perfectly and grammatically correct.
8. War and geopolitical conflicts have __________ throughout modern history and 2018 is unlikely to be an __________.

A. Continuous, rejection B. Persisted, exception C. Persevered, acceptance D. Go, catch E. Cease, prerequisite

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Both words fit in perfectly and grammatically correct.
9. An efficient logistics system lies at the __________ of any well-functioning military, and this is especially complicated for the Indian Armed Forces given the__________ environments and conditions they operate in.

A. Heart, diverse B. Crux, parallel C. Core, similar D. Periphery, distinct E. Bottom, uniform

Answer: Option A
Explanation: Both words fit in perfectly and grammatically correct.
10. The __________ to e-buses would not lower the level of emissions but merely __________ their place of origin.

A. Shift, altered, B. Evolution, vary C. Rectify, modification D. Transition, change E. Altercation, destroy

Answer: Option D
Explanation: Both words fit in perfectly and grammatically correct.