Question 1

Sentence completion (concession with "Despite"): Choose the option that best completes the idea.  Stem: "Despite his best efforts to conceal his anger …"  Select the ending that logically contrasts with the concession.

Accepted Answer

Given data Concessive opener: "Despite his best efforts to conceal his anger …". Concept/ApproachDespite introduces an idea that contrasts with the expected outcome. Option analysisE gives the appropriate contrast: although he tried to hide anger, people still knew he was annoyed.A contradicts the emotion; B shifts to "agony", not anger; C/D state success, which clashes with the concessive implication. Final Answerpeople came to know that he was annoyed

Question 2

Sentence meaning and paraphrase: understand the concessive clause "even if"  Base statement: "Even if it rains, I shall come." Choose the option that best restates the meaning without changing the intent.

Accepted Answer

Given data Original: "Even if it rains, I shall come." Task: choose the paraphrase that keeps the concessive meaning. Concept/Approach"Even if" introduces a concession. It asserts that the main clause will be true in spite of the condition. Thus, the speaker intends to come regardless of rain. Option analysisI will certainly come whether it rains or not — correctly expresses invariance to rain; strongest match. ✅if I come it will not rain — reverses causality and changes meaning.if it rains I shall not come — contradicts the original.whenever there is rain I shall come — changes to a habitual rule triggered by rain.I am less likely to come if it rains — weakens the commitment. Common pitfalls Confusing "even if" (concession) with "if" (condition). Final AnswerI will certainly come whether it rains or not.

Question 3

Sentence completion with contrast: infer a positive trait from an unsmiling appearance  Base stem: "His appearance is unsmiling but …" Choose the clause that best contrasts the outward look with an inner quality.

Accepted Answer

Given data Contrast marker: "but". Appearance: "unsmiling" (neutral/negative surface cue). Concept/ApproachA "but" clause should meaningfully contrast the first clause. The most logical contrast to an unsmiling exterior is a warm or kind interior quality. Option analysishis heart is full of compassion for others — clear positive inner trait that contrasts surface sternness. ✅he looks very serious — repeats the same idea; not a contrast.people are afraid of him — consequence of unsmiling; not a contrast.he is uncompromising / full of jealousy — negative traits; again not a contrast. Final Answerhis heart is full of compassion for others.

Question 4

Sentence meaning (ethics of zoos): select the phrase that explains opposition to zoos  Base stem: "She never visits any zoo because she is a strong opponent of the idea of …" Choose the completion that best states the objectionable idea.

Accepted Answer

Given data Reason for avoiding zoos: ethical opposition to an underlying idea. Concept/ApproachCommon ethical critiques of zoos focus on confinement and entertainment at the expense of animal freedom. The completion must articulate that idea explicitly. Option analysisholding the animals in captivity for our joy — directly names confinement for human entertainment; fits the rationale. ✅setting the animals free — the opposite of the criticized idea.watching the animals in their natural abode — that would be ethical wildlife viewing.going out of the house — irrelevant.feeding the animals while others are watching — not the core ethical concern. Final Answerholding the animals in captivity for our joy.

Question 5

Sentence completion with degree of relief: choose the comparative phrase that fits  Base stem: "I felt somewhat more relaxed …" Select the option that correctly contrasts present state with an earlier tenser state.

Accepted Answer

Given data Adverb of degree: "somewhat more relaxed" → improvement over earlier state. Concept/ApproachWe need a continuation that coherently indicates increased relaxation relative to the past, using a grammatically sound comparative structure. Among the choices, the coordination with "and" plus a positive state is the most consistent, despite being slightly emphatic. Option analysisand tension-free as compared to earlier — signals an improved, relaxed state contrasted with earlier; grammatically acceptable. ✅but tense … / and tense … — contradict "more relaxed".as there was already no tension at all — conflicts with "somewhat more" (implies remaining tension differences).because the worry had already captured by mind — ungrammatical phrase. Common pitfalls Choosing a clause that negates the stated improvement. Final Answerand tension-free as compared to earlier.

Question 6

Sentence completion (calm vs. chaos): choose the best contrasting crowd behaviour  Prompt: "It is not easy to remain tranquil when those around you …" Select the option that creates the strongest contrast to staying tranquil.

Accepted Answer

ConceptTranquillity is hardest to maintain amid panic and disorder. The idiom "lose one's head" means to panic or become irrational. Option analysisare losing their heads — captures chaos and panic, making tranquillity difficult. ✅Other options describe agreeable or pleasant behaviour, which would not challenge one's calm. Final Answerare losing their heads.

Question 7

Idiom and comparison meaning: interpret "no match for/to" in context  Sentence: "The food in this hotel is no match to what we were forced to eat at late hours in Hotel Kohinoor." Choose the option that best conveys this meaning.

Accepted Answer

Given data Idiom: "X is no match for/to Y" → X is inferior to Y. Here: X = food in this hotel; Y = what we ate at Hotel Kohinoor (late hours). Concept/ApproachApply the idiom: the present hotel's food is poorer than Kohinoor's food. Pick the option that states Kohinoor's food is better. Option analysisHotel kohinoor served us good quality food than what we get here — despite minor infelicities, it encodes "Kohinoor better than here." ✅The food here is quite good compared to Kohinoor — reverses the idiom's direction.Options (c), (d), (e) do not reflect the comparative judgement. Common pitfalls Misreading "no match" as "equal to" rather than "inferior to". Final AnswerHotel kohinoor served us good quality food than what we get here.

Question 8

Concessive vs. corrective contrast: pick the clause that reverses the initial suspicion  Stem: "Although initial investigations pointed towards him …" Choose the completion that resolves the contrast appropriately.

Accepted Answer

Concept"Although" introduces a contrast with what follows. If early probes pointed to him, a contrasting resolution is that later events cleared him. Option analysisthe subsequent events proved that he was innocent — direct contrast and grammatically correct. ✅(a), (b), (e) all reinforce guilt and so do not contrast the concessive setup.(c) is ungrammatical ("was guilt"). Final Answerthe subsequent events proved that he was innocent.

Question 9

Decision based on pleasant weather: choose the most natural activity in the open  Prompt: "The weather outside was extremely pleasant and hence we decided to …" Select the option that best matches a pleasant-weather decision.

Accepted Answer

ConceptPleasant weather motivates outdoor activity. The completion should show going out into the open. Option analysisenjoy a morning ride in the open — aligns perfectly with "pleasant". ✅Other options keep one indoors or negate going out, which contradicts the given reason. Final Answerenjoy a morning ride in the open.

Question 10

Idiom meaning: interpret "an uphill task" in a directive  Sentence: "It is an uphill task but you will have to do it." Choose the option that explains the meaning correctly.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe idiom "an uphill task" means a difficult or demanding piece of work. The coordinating "but" adds compulsion: it must still be done. Option analysisIt is very difficult task but you have to do it — captures both difficulty and obligation. ✅Other options misinterpret the idiom or add unrelated ideas. Final AnswerIt is very difficult task but you have to do it.

Question 11

Sentence meaning (opinion vs. reality): interpret a corrective statement about Ravi  Sentence: "You are thinking very highly about Ravi but he is not so." Choose the paraphrase that preserves the intended correction.

Accepted Answer

Given data Speaker critiques an overly high estimation. Contrast marker: "but". Concept/ApproachThe clause "but he is not so" means reality falls short of the listener's opinion. The correct paraphrase must lower the assessment of Ravi relative to the listener's belief. Option analysisYou have a good opinion about Ravi but he is not as good as you think — exact restatement of the corrective meaning. ✅(a) claims equality; (d) raises the assessment; (c) irrelevant; (e) changes the topic to reciprocal opinion. Final AnswerYou have a good opinion about Ravi but he is not as good as you think.

Question 12

Idiom meaning (phrasal expression): interpret "stuck up a friendship" in context  Base sentence: "Anand stuck up a friendship with Mahesh in just 2 days." Choose the option that correctly paraphrases the sentence's meaning in simple English.

Accepted Answer

Given data Idiom: to strike/stick up a friendship with someone. Time qualifier: "in just 2 days" (very quickly). Concept/ApproachThe idiom means to begin or form a friendship. The time phrase indicates the friendship started quickly. Option analysisAnand became a friend of Mahesh in less than 2 days — conveys that the friendship began very quickly; acceptable paraphrase. ✅(a) Ending a friendship ≠ starting it.(b) Discovering other friends is unrelated.(c) "Fixed a deal" changes the domain to business.(d) Changes both meaning and duration (2 years ≠ 2 days). Common pitfalls Reading "stuck up" as the adjective "stuck-up" (snobbish), which is unrelated here. Final AnswerAnand became a friend of Mahesh in less than 2 days.

Question 13

Concessive contrast in sentence completion: complete the clause after "although"  Stem: "Although he is reputed for making very candid statements, …" Choose the best contrasting completion for today's statements.

Accepted Answer

Given data Connector: "Although" introduces a contrast with what follows. Premise: he is known for candid (frank/clear) statements. Concept/ApproachWe need a clause that contrasts "candid" with something opposite for the current occasion (e.g., "ambiguous"). It should also refer to the current/today context. Option analysishis today's statements were very ambiguous — direct opposite of "candid"; fits the concessive structure. ✅(a) Audibility is not the opposite of candour.(b) Past promises, not about today's statements.(c) "Interesting" does not contrast with "candid".(d) Irrelevant to candour. Final Answerhis today's statements were very ambiguous.

Question 14

Meaning and intent: paraphrase a polite directive from management  Sentence: "The manager would like you to help Dhiraj." Choose the option that restates the manager's intention most directly.

Accepted Answer

Concept"Would like you to …" is a polite way to express a desire/request. A faithful paraphrase preserves that intended request. Option analysisthe manager desires you to help Dhiraj — matches the request meaning. ✅(a) Changes meaning to conditional liking.(c) Gives a reason and changes the tense.(d) Shifts the subject of desire to Dhiraj.(e) Talks about "liking" Dhiraj, not helping. Final Answerthe manager desires you to help Dhiraj.

Question 15

Cause–effect and prudent action: decide the best response to an acute power shortage  Prompt: "Owing to the acute power shortage, the people of our locality have decided to …" Choose the most sensible conservation-focused completion.

Accepted Answer

Given data Cause: acute power shortage. Effect: community decision (should favor conservation). Concept/ApproachIn a shortage, prudent action is to conserve electricity and use it only when essential. Option analysisresort to use of electricity only when it is inevitable — expresses conservation under necessity. ✅(a) "Dispense with other non-conventional energy sources" removes alternatives; illogical.(b) "Abundant use" contradicts shortage.(c) Grammar is off; intent is similar to conservation but phrasing is incorrect.(d) Mentions "excess power", which contradicts "shortage". Final Answerresort to use of electricity only when it is inevitable.

Question 16

Causal completion: provide a logical reason for having no money now  Stem: "He has no money now …" Choose the completion that explains the present lack of money.

Accepted Answer

ConceptA present-tense result (has no money now) requires a cause compatible with having disposed of wealth. Option analysisas he has given up all his wealth — directly explains the present lack of money. ✅(a) Past poverty does not cause present poverty by itself.(c) Being rich once does not explain having no money now.(d) Receiving a donation would increase money, not remove it.(e) Greed does not logically entail having no money now. Final Answeras he has given up all his wealth.

Question 17

Degree result structure ("so … that"): choose the natural consequence of laziness  Prompt: "He is so lazy that he …" Select the most likely result clause that follows the degree construction.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe pattern "so … that" expresses a consequence of the degree. Extreme laziness naturally causes poor timeliness in completing one's own work. Option analysiscan seldom complete his work on time — directly plausible consequence of laziness. ✅(a) A very lazy person often does depend on others; the negative here is misplaced.(b) Laziness tends to delay work, not prevent delays.(d) Grammar off and contradicts laziness.(e) Helping others contradicts the described laziness. Final Answercan seldom complete his work on time.

Question 18

Equality comparison ("as … as"): interpret the balance of two traits  Sentence: "Dinesh is as stupid as he is lazy." Choose the option that captures the meaning of equality in both traits.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe structure "as … as" expresses equality in degree between two qualities. Option analysisDinesh is equally stupid and lazy — exact restatement of equality. ✅(a), (b) introduce causality, which is absent.(c) "Either … or" contradicts "as … as".(d) Minimizes one trait, contradicting equality. Final AnswerDinesh is equally stupid and lazy.

Question 19

Cause of low productivity: infer the best reason few tasks were completed last week  Stem: "Practically, very little work could be completed in the last week as it was …" Choose the completion that most directly explains reduced work output.

Accepted Answer

ConceptIf little work was completed, the most straightforward cause is fewer working days (i.e., many holidays). Option analysisfull of holidays — directly limits work days and output. ✅(a) "Full of working days" would allow more, not less, work.(b), (d), (e) suggest heavy activity, which should increase work done, not decrease it. Final Answerfull of holidays.

Question 20

Democratic behaviour: choose the action consistent with belief in democracy  Prompt: "Because he believes in democratic principles, he always …" Select the practice that aligns with democratic decision-making.

Accepted Answer

Given data Belief: democratic principles (participation, majority rule, openness). Concept/ApproachA democrat accepts majority decisions even when they differ from personal views. Option analysisreconciles with the majority views and gives us his own — intended as "reconciles with the majority view and gives up his own"; aligns with democracy. ✅(a), (e) concentrate power in one person — undemocratic.(b) "Enforces his own" contradicts democratic ethos.(c) Conditional respect is not democratic. Note on phrasingThe option contains a minor typo ("gives us" → "gives up"). The intended meaning supports majority view acceptance. Final Answerreconciles with the majority views and gives us his own.

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