Directions (1-5): Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Pay careful attention.
People in the present society have turned from the use of the old means of communication to the more advanced and technological ways of communicating. Technology has made it easier for people to communicate in a faster, efficient, and cost-saving means through the introduction of the communication channels. The world has turned out to be the centre for technology with different technologies emerging daily as the people continue to develop from time to time to cope with the growing technology. The benefits of adopting the communication technology are explained in this article which shows why people do not function without technology.
Communication is a critical thing in today’s society because the exchange of information is vital in living. People live both locally and globally through technological connections by maintaining contact and interaction between individuals from all corners of the world. Communication binds people, helps maintaining the society healthy and enables people to interact and make friends from different regions and cultures. According to Adrian in 2006, communication and information technology plays a great role in the individuals’ life. There is a high rate of growth of the communication technology industry and the benefits as more people come up with new means of communication by day. A point has reached where activities cannot function without information technology due to the many benefits which come along with the current day technologies. Moreover, the industry plays a great role in improving the nation’s economy by facilitating fast and easier means of doing things and offering employment to many people across the world.
The presence of computers, phones, internet and wireless devices have broadened the web of connectivity by changing long distances to short ones where everyone is equal distance from the other through the present connections. Living without technology will be totally impossible as this has become every day’s application as more and more people are gaining knowledge on how to make use of the communication tools to improve their ways of living and staying informed on the current technology to avoid being left behind. New technologies are being developed daily which shows that the industry will continue to grow and expand. People will continue using these technologies to improve their standards and to stay informed.
The present technology has found its use in almost every sector making the industries, businesses and institutions to use it for their daily activities since it brings a lot of benefits. In the former days the modes of communication used were slow and sometimes unreliable since the information could take a long time before getting to the recipient. The use of communication and interaction sites such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, MySpace, and online email chat services has gained popularity among the young people whereby they can talk, share and interact with people from different parts of the word. The communication channels helps many users since they act as the dating sites for couples, people also make friends and share t with them at different locations. Many people have ended up in marriages from the online dating services; others have made friends and got connections to good jobs and other beneficial activities. These sites are more addictive and therefore the users find themselves visiting them more often and others stay online 24 hours. Apart from benefiting the communication sector, technology has also led to the improvement in areas of business, education, health, and the society in general.
Businesses continue to enjoy the introduction of new technologies which help in improving their activities. Business remains up-to-date with the daily occurrences concerning the market; the business also moves forward and is able to compete with the others in different locations. In the education sector, technology continues to evolve at a faster rate as the learners get to know new ways of learning. The information technology is a requirement for every learner in order to utilize these ideas in the learning process. Students and their teachers communicate using the sites stated above to inform them on the changes in the timetable and send notes in soft copy. In addition technology has helped the health centres improve their services and transforming the medical profession by securing the environment for the patients and make them feel comfortable to discuss their issues.
Moreover, there are online medical services whereby the patients can interact with their doctors without having to go to the health centres. Communication technology helps in the growth of the society through offering convenience modes of attending to the activities through online shopping, banking and travel arrangements. Also, there is speed in doing various operations in presence of technology whereby individuals attend to their tasks in a convenient and reliable way. Alternatively, people in the society keep in touch with one another and can effectively communicate and exchange their views for the growth and development of the community.
Life is incomplete without technology and the world has reached a point that technology is everything. Incorporating technology in our daily activities makes the life easier and worth living. There is a need for the involved parties in the field of communication technology to come up with more advanced technologies so that people can enjoy these services and help in developing the country. People living in the third world countries have the duty to ensure that they have the knowledge of the current technology so that they can improve their countries to develop and compete with the developed nations. Comparing the advanced technology with the old fashion ways of doing things it has become simplified and time-saving. People are able to do many activities at a go, while in the absence of technology things went slow and more energy was utilized. Despite the few problems posed by the use of communication technology people continue to use it since the advantages outweighs the disadvantages.
1. What sectors or areas has technology made an impact in? a. Communication b. Health c. Business

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

Solution: D It is given in the passage that, ‘Apart from benefiting the communication sector, technology has also led to the improvement in areas of business, education, health, and the society in general’.
2. What is the author’s point of view in the last passage?

A. That the disadvantages of technology must be ignored since, the advantages outweigh them B. Technology has many advantages and if used properly can make everyone’s life easier C. Technology is very important for communication D. Technology is going to be needed by everyone. E. None of the above

Solution: B The author is trying to emphasize on the fact that technology plays a vital role in our life and that it is going to make life ‘worth living’. He thinks that even the most underdeveloped countries can be improved due to technology. The author talks about ‘disadvantages of communication technology’. Hence, the first option does not talk about technology, but only about communication technology. Options 3 and 4 are stressed in other paragraphs but the last paragraph does not focus on these points.
3. What is the primary purpose of the passage? a. To show how technology is a part of everything in life b. To point out the disadvantages of technology c. To show how technology can further improve our lives

A. Only c B. Only a C. a and c D. Only b E. All of the above

Solution: B The passage mainly shows us how technology has an impact on life today. The past and present ways of communication have been compared and impact of technology in all parts of today’s world is shown. Nothing about ‘further development’ of technology has been mentioned. Option B stating about disadvantages is also incorrect.
4. What should people living in the third world countries do?

A. Migrate to developed nations B. Start taking loans to develop technology C. Make their economy stronger D. Try to learn about current technology E. None of the above

Solution: D It is mentioned in the passage that, ‘People living in the third world countries have the duty to ensure that they have the knowledge of the current technology’. Hence, option 4 is the most appropriate option. The author has not mentioned ‘migration’ or ‘loans’ or ‘economy’ in any part of the passage.
5. According to the author, what will people keep using technology for? a. Warfare b. Improve standards c. Stay informed d. Efficiency

A. Only b B. a and b C. b, c and d D. b and c E. c and d

Solution: D The author has mentioned various uses of technology. He has mainly focussed on how technology has helped in making things ‘easier’. Hence, ‘improve standards’ is definitely a correct option. Apart from this, the author has stressed on how technology has made the world a smaller place. Hence, C is also a correct option. The author has stressed on the ‘ease’ of doing things and nothing has been mentioned about the ‘efficiency’. If we strictly stick to the context of the passage, ‘warfare’ is irrelevant.

Directions(1 - 5): In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered, these numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fits the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Given the share of black money in the economy is large, even though declining, and that a large part of these transactions take place in cash, it is natural the government would want to find ways to deal with this. The finance secretary, for instance, has said that one of the measures being considered is that no one paying a bill of more than Rs.5,000 in a restaurant should be allowed to do so in cash—once the amount is paid by credit or debit card, it automatically leaves a trail for the taxman to follow since bank accounts have PAN card details. At some point, presumably, the same principle needs to be extended to luxury boutiques/shops and showrooms for automobiles, among others. The finance secretary, in fact, has said the government will set up a committee to suggest ways to incentivize credit and debit card transactions. One of them, he said, could be to share the costs of the Point of Sale device; greater spread of the RuPay cards could be another, Given their charges are lower. Another suggestion made has been to limit the amount of cash that can be paid while purchasing property. While discouraging the use of cash is a good thing, it is unlikely incentivizing the use of credit/debit cards is going to be of much use. A person buying a house or a luxury car, or paying for an expensive meal in a luxury hotel in cash is not doing so to avoid paying the service charge levied by Visa or MasterCard—the idea is to avoid getting (1) in the tax net.
It is equally important to recognize that (2) mandating some things will not help. There is, for instance, no way of ensuring a limit, of say Rs.50,000, for the cash payment on the purchase of a flat as long as the registration is being done at a lower value than the actual one. The only way to check this is to do other reforms like lowering stamp duties, (3) circle rates with market values and refuse to recognize power of attorneys as proof of sale. The other, and more sensible, way is to make use of the troves of information the government already (4) by way of annual information returns from jewellers, real estate firms, automobile dealers, hotels, property registrars, travel agents and airlines among others. Once a profile is available of large spenders, this needs to be (5) with the income tax returns.
1. 1. consoled 2.caught 3.resolved 4.discover 5.regret Answer: caught
2. 1. hardly 2.individually 3.merely 4.faintly 5.diagonally Answer: merely
3. 1. fixed 2.tighten 3.bring 4.regulates 5.align Answer: align
4. 1. dispense 2.chased 3.secure 4.collects 5.correlate Answer: collects
5. 1. intended 2. reigned 3.diverted 4.matched 5.concerned Answer: matched

Direction (1-5): Each question below contains a statement with three blanks followed by four options. Choose the option that can fill the three blanks and mark it as your answer.
1. The latest attempt to _______the iconic villain of the Batman Universe, ‘The Joker’, has once again _______the character with _______realism, mirroring the horror and liberation of our own personal demons on the movie screen.

A. backlash, succour, persecution B. backlash, endowed, gritty C. understand, endowed, gritty D. understand, succour, persecution

Answer - Option C
Explanation - In the given sentence, only ‘understand, endowed, gritty’ make it grammatically as well as contextually correct.
Option A): is incorrect because succour means assistance and support in times of hardship and distress which does not fit here.
Option B): is incorrect as ‘backlash’ means a strong negative reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development.
Option C): is the correct alternative among the following as ‘gritty’ means showing courage and resolve, ‘understand, endowed’ fit here both grammatically and contextually.
Option D): is incorrect as persecution means hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression which does not fit here contextually
2. Peattie’s biography starts with an _______about Byron’s teenage years that _______his slippery psychological complexity. On an evening of amateur theatricals, he performed first in a sulphurous melodrama, then in a comedy of manners. In one play, he was a misanthrope branded with the mark of Cain, in the other a _______dandy.

A. stipulate, deem, frivolous B. anecdote, encapsulates, reckon C. stipulate, deem, reckon D. anecdote, encapsulates, frivolous

Answer - Option D
Explanation - In the given sentence, only ‘anecdote, encapsulates, frivolous’ make it grammatically as well as contextually correct.
Option A): is incorrect because stipulate means demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement which does not fit here.
Option B): is incorrect as ‘reckon’ means establish by calculation which does not make any sense here.
Option C): is incorrect as ‘deem’ does not fit here.
Option D): is the correct alternative among the following as ‘anecdote, encapsulates, frivolous’ fit here both grammatically and contextually.
3. In Vietnamese, we say, “Your words smell bad!” to mean “Your words are not kind or _______, but rather they are sharp, slanderous and misleading.” Our speech can build a world of peace and joy in which _______and love can flourish, or it can create _______and hatred. ‘Right speech’ means that our words are both truthful and beautiful.

A. constructive, mist, discord B. conjectural, putative, discord C. constructive, mist, appositeness D. conjectural, putative, appositeness

Answer - Option A
Explanation - In the given sentence, only ‘constructive, mist, discord’ make it grammatically as well as contextually correct.
Option A): is the correct alternative among the following as ‘constructive, mist, discord’ fit here both grammatically and contextually.
Option B): is incorrect as conjectural means speculative which does not make any sense here.
Option C): is incorrect as ‘appositeness’ does not make any sense here.
Option D): is incorrect as putative means generally considered or reputed to be which does not fit here contextually
4. When in deference to _______of the gods, she is required to kill the _______demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha. She transforms herself into a ferocious goddess with her eight lotus-like hands holding bells, trident, plough, conch, mace, discus, bow and arrow. In the MarkandeyaPurana, she appears in the final phase of the _______of demons who troubled the gods.

A. sentinel, formidable, vanquishing B. sentinel, decoit, abrogate C. entreaties, decoit, abrogate D. entreaties, formidable, vanquishing

Answer - Option D
Explanation - In the given sentence, only ‘entreaties, formidable, vanquishing’ make it grammatically as well as contextually correct.
Option A): is incorrect because sentinel means an indicator of the presence of disease which does not fit here.
Option B): is incorrect as ‘decoit’ does not make any sense here.
Option C): is incorrect as ‘abrogate’ means repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement) which does not fit here.
Option D): is the correct alternative among the following as ‘vanquishing’ means defeat thoroughly, ‘entreaties, formidable’ fit here both grammatically and contextually.
5. As his last alter ego, he _______the mythic figure of the libertine Don Juan, yet the _______, immature character in his comic epic hardly measures up to the defiantly irreligious seducer in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. As Peattie puts it, Byron’s Juan is as unlike the _______as a stupid Faust or a stay-at-home Ulysses would be.

A. blatant, subtly, archetype B. adopted, fumbling, archetype C. blatant, subtly, defile D. adopted, fumbling, defile

Answer - Option B
Explanation - In the given sentence, only ‘adopted, fumbling, archetype’ make it grammatically as well as contextually correct.
Option A): is incorrect as ‘blatant’ does not make any sense here.
Option B): is the correct alternative among the following as ‘adopted, fumbling, archetype’ fit here both grammatically and contextually.
Option C): is incorrect as subtly means in a manner that is as delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe which does not fit here.
Option D): is incorrect as ‘defile’ does not make any sense here.

1. By the times (A) / we reached the classroom, (B) / the lecture had (C) / already begun. (D) / No error (E)

A. A B. B C. C D. D

Answer - Option A
Explanation - In part A, the word 'times' must be replaced with 'time' as the correct idiom is 'By the time' and not 'By the times'.
By the time indicates the relative time (before and up to the end-point) of one activity as the reference point for viewing the ongoing or completed state of a second activity. ("maybe before but no later than the time")
Hence, option A is correct.
2. Instead of (A) / to buy books, (B) / I borrow them (C) / from the library. (D) / No error (E)

A. A B. B C. C D. D

Answer - Option A
Explanation - The preposition 'instead of' is generally followed by a gerund. In part B, the infinitive 'to buy' hence must be replaced with 'buying' to make it a grammatically correct sentence.
Henec, option A is correct.
3. The doctors said that (A) / he was making good progress (B) / and would not (C) / need an operation. (D) / No error (E)

A. A B. B C. C D. E

Answer - Option D
Explanation - The sentence is absolutely correct and thus has no error in it.
Option E is hence the correct answer.
4. The course is for (A) / anyone who is interested (B) / in learning (C) / about computers. (D) / No error (E)

A. A B. B C. C D. D

Answer - Option D
Explanation - In part D, the idiom 'learning about' must be replaced with 'learning' as it is more appropriate in the context.
'To learn' means to gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of something through experience or study.
Ex. It took me almost a year to learn French.
'To learn about', while, is an idiom which means 'to find out about someone or something.'
Ex. What have you learned about Mr. Franklin and his business dealings?
Hence, option D is correct.
5. Poor people (A) / has no money (B) / therefore they cannot afford (C) / proper medical facilities. (D) / No eror. (E)

A. A B. B C. C D. E

Answer - Option B
Explanation - In part B, the verb 'has' must be replaced with 'have' as it has to be in agreement with the number of the subject 'people' which is plural.
Hence, option B is correct.

1. Choose the word meaning SIMILAR to the word: DAMPEN

A. brighten B. corral C. diminish D. grout

Answer - Option C
Explanation - Dampen – make less strong or intense, make slightly wet.
2. Choose the word meaning SIMILAR to the word: PALPABLE

A. improbable B. detectable C. obscure D. halcyon

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Palpable – able to be touched or felt.
3. Choose the word meaning SIMILAR to the word: ENIGMA

A. corbel B. enthuse C. conundrum D. chastise

Answer - Option C
Explanation - enigma- a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
4. Choose the word meaning SIMILAR to the word: PROTRACTED

A. chasten B. insidious C. crackle D. stretched

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Protracted – lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.
5. Choose the word meaning SIMILAR to the word: SLAPDASH

A. haphazard B. chary C. prudent D. accurate

Answer - Option A
Explanation - Slapdash – done too hurriedly and carelessly.

Directions (1-2): Which of the following phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence meaningfully correct? Choose the best option among the five given alternatives that reflect the correct use of phrase in the context of the grammatically correct sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark “No Change required” as your answer.
1. There will been no ingress into the school until the fire department makes an “all clear” announcement.

A. be not ingress in the B. be no ingress into them C. been no ingress into them D. be no ingress into the

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Option 'D' is the correct choice here and makes the sentence contextually and grammatically correct.
2. Because the drinking water was found to have an brain-eating amoeba, crews were called in to purify the system.

A. was found too have an B. was found to have a C. were found to have a D. were found to have an

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Option 'B' is the correct choice here and makes the sentence contextually and grammatically correct. The article 'a' will be used here as 'brain- eating' starts with a consonant.

Directions (1-5): Rearrange the following sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below.

(A) Overworked courts cannot become a one-stop solution for performing legislative/executive tasks such as banning fire crackers/loud speakers, enforcing seat belt/helmet wearing rules, or solving theological/civil society questions such as what the essence of Hinduism is or whether a mosque is integral for namaz.
(B) Yet, the irony of democracy is such that the task of completing the world’s largest democracy’s political and social revolution cannot be laid only at the doorstep of the wise men and women in robes.
(C) The abdication of responsibility by the legislature is even more damaging considering that the judiciary is groaning under the weight of a mammoth 3.3 crore pending cases.
(D) The process of abolishing religious or secular hierarchies/injustices cannot become deep-rooted if it is merely judicial or legal. Take the Supreme Court’s recent directive urging new legislation to curb lynching.
(E) Politically-motivated lynchings targeting a community do not happen because of the absence of laws. They happen because of a wilful subversion of laws by the executive backed by mobs riding on electoral majorities.
(F) In this context, should the valuable time of the judiciary be spent in entertaining and delivering verdicts on Public Interest Litigations (PILs), seeking, to take a couple of instances, a ban on pornography or making the national anthem mandatory in cinema halls? The PIL, a unique and powerful tool to seek justice for the weakest sections, has now degenerated.

1. Considering statement (A) “Overworked courts cannot become a one-stop solution for performing legislative/executive tasks such as banning fire crackers/loud speakers, enforcing seat belt/helmet wearing rules, or solving theological/civil society questions such as what the essence of Hinduism is or whether a mosque is integral for namaz ” as the Third sentence of the rearranged paragraph, then which among the following becomes the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?

A. D B. B C. F D. E

Answer - Option C
Explanation - Correct sequence is CFADEB
2. Considering statement (A) “Overworked courts cannot become a one-stop solution for performing legislative/executive tasks such as banning fire crackers/loud speakers, enforcing seat belt/helmet wearing rules, or solving theological/civil society questions such as what the essence of Hinduism is or whether a mosque is integral for namaz ” as the Third sentence of the rearranged paragraph, then which among the following becomes the SIXTH sentence after rearrangement?

A. C B. B C. E D. F

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Correct sequence is CFADEB
3. Considering statement (A) “Overworked courts cannot become a one-stop solution for performing legislative/executive tasks such as banning fire crackers/loud speakers, enforcing seat belt/helmet wearing rules, or solving theological/civil society questions such as what the essence of Hinduism is or whether a mosque is integral for namaz ” as the Third sentence of the rearranged paragraph, then which among the following becomes the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement?

A. F B. E C. B D. D

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Correct sequence is CFADEB
4. Among the following pairs which one of them is formed with two consecutive statements after the rearrangement?

A. B-D B. A-E C. C-F D. D-E

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Correct sequence is CFADEB
5. Among the following pairs which one of them is formed with two consecutive statements after the rearrangement?

A. C-F B. A-C C. B-D D. D-E

Answer - Option A
Explanation - Correct sequence is CFADEB

1. A. I. It’s was a long journey from Delhi to Australia so I thought I would make a virtue of necessity and write some articles that had to be submitted to the magazines. II. After the car accident, emergency technicians rushed to extract a heavy piece of metal from the patient's leg. B. I. I don’t think rubbing the director of the company in a wrong way was a good move for your career. II. We had a rude awakening when the waiter brought us the bill and we saw how much we had spent on dinner and drinks. C. I. I tell my husband to prick up his ears when taking down the grocery details for the month else he tends to forget to buy certain important things. II. The teacher asked her students to start paying attention as the topic she was about to discuss was an important one.

A. Only I B. Only III C. Only I and II D. Only I and III

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Make a virtue of necessity: extract something beneficial from an unwelcome obligation. The statement talks about rescue after an accident. Hence, it is not the same as the idiom.
Rub the wrong way: to be rude to someone and cause a tiff or a fight, to be impolite or irritate someone. The statement talks about a rude awakening which is not what the idiom means. Hence, it is not the same as the idiom.
Prick up his ears: to start paying attention, to begin the process of listening (to someone) intently. In the statement the teacher asks the students to pay attention, hence it conveys the same meaning as the idiom.
Hence, option B is the correct answer.