Question 1

VOCABULARY — Choose the best synonym (same meaning) of the highlighted word, based on the sentence.  Sentence: “A RUPTURE in the relationship of two brothers is quite apparent.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Rupture,” when applied to relationships, means a serious break or severance in friendly or cooperative relations. In diplomatic and interpersonal contexts, “breach” is a precise synonym for a fractured relationship or the violation that causes it. Given Data / Assumptions: The noun refers to the relationship between two brothers. We need a term that collocates well with “relationship.” Options include general and specific nouns for breaks. Concept / Approach: While “break” is understandable, “breach” is the established collocation in formal English for a rupture in relations, for example “a breach in relations” or “a breach of trust.” “Damage” is too generic and typically collocates with objects or reputation. “Gap” suggests distance or difference, not necessarily a break caused by conflict. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Map “rupture” to relationship contexts: serious break or severance.2) Choose the closest formal synonym used with relationships: “breach.”3) Validate by substitution: “A breach in the relationship …” fits idiomatically. Verification / Alternative check: Common phrases include “breach of friendship,” “breach of relations,” and “breach of trust,” all aligning with rupture. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A) “break” — understandable but less precise in formal contexts.B) “damage” — generic harm, not a discrete relational severance.D) “gap” — implies distance or difference, not a breach caused by conflict. Common Pitfalls: Picking a broad everyday word (“break”) when a more accurate collocation (“breach”) exists for relationships. Final Answer: breach

Question 2

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined expression in context. Sentence: His visit to foreign countries brought about a sea-change in his outlook and his attitude to people.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The phrase “sea-change” is a well-known English idiom meaning a very large, transformative change. In this sentence, it describes how the person's outlook and attitude altered after travelling abroad. Understanding fixed expressions like this is essential for vocabulary-building and reading comprehension. Given Data / Assumptions: The key phrase is “sea-change”. It modifies “his outlook and his attitude to people”. We must select the closest meaning from the options. No other contextual clues limit whether the change is positive or negative; only its magnitude is emphasized. Concept / Approach: “Sea-change” conventionally means a radical or complete transformation. It does not inherently mean “good” or “bad”; rather, it emphasizes scale and depth. Therefore, the best paraphrase focuses on totality, not sentiment. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the idiom: sea-change = profound transformation.Compare options for magnitude versus polarity: “complete change” (magnitude), “partial change” (limited), “favourable” or “unfavourable” (polarity).Match the idiom: only “complete change” captures the sense without adding positive/negative bias.Confirm with context: travel often reshapes attitudes profoundly, aligning with “complete change”. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute the option in place of the idiom: “brought about a complete change” keeps the sentence natural and faithful to the intended meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: partial change: contradicts the idea of a radical transformation. favourable change: adds positivity not stated in the sentence. unfavourable change: adds negativity not stated in the sentence. Common Pitfalls: Assuming “sea-change” implies positive improvement. The term is neutral about valence but strong about scale. Final Answer: complete change

Question 3

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: Only those who are gullible take every advertisement seriously.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Gullible” describes a person who can be easily persuaded or deceived because they are overly trusting. In advertising contexts, gullible consumers accept claims without verification. Recognizing near-synonyms helps choose precise meanings in reading passages. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: gullible. Context: believing every advertisement. Options include words about mistakes, emotions, trust, and realism. Concept / Approach: The core feature of “gullible” is unwary trustfulness. A close synonym emphasizes not suspecting trickery or false claims. Among the options, “unsuspecting” best matches this trait. Step-by-Step Solution: Define the pivot: gullible = easily deceived because too trusting.Scan choices: “unsuspecting” = not expecting deception; “fallible” = liable to error; “enthusiastic” = eager; “unrealistic” = not practical.Map to context: taking ads at face value aligns with “unsuspecting”.Select the synonym that fits both meaning and context. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “Only those who are unsuspecting take every advertisement seriously.” This retains the original logic. Why Other Options Are Wrong: fallible: everyone is fallible; it does not imply credulity. enthusiastic: refers to eagerness, not naivety. unrealistic: relates to practicality, not trustfulness. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “gullible” with “foolish” or “stupid.” Gullibility is about trust, not intelligence. Final Answer: unsuspecting

Question 4

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: Whatever opinion he gives is sane.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Sane” in evaluative language means sound, reasonable, and guided by good judgment. Here, it qualifies “opinion,” which expects a synonym emphasizing logic and reason rather than emotion or confusion. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence structure: “Whatever opinion he gives is sane.” We need a synonym for “sane” in the context of judgments or opinions. Choices span reason (rational), lack of clarity (obscure), extremity (wild), and attitude (arrogant). Concept / Approach: When “sane” modifies thoughts or decisions, the closest paraphrase is “rational.” It emphasizes logical consistency and balanced judgment, matching the tone of the sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “sane” as “sound” or “reasonable.”Compare options: “rational” aligns directly; others address unrelated qualities.Choose the option that maintains the sentence's positive evaluation of judgment quality.Confirm by substitution to ensure naturalness. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “Whatever opinion he gives is rational.” The meaning is preserved. Why Other Options Are Wrong: obscure: suggests unclear ideas, not necessarily unreasonable. wild: implies reckless extremity, the opposite nuance. arrogant: describes attitude, not logic quality. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “sane” with “sincere” or “calm.” In intellectual contexts, it best matches “rational.” Final Answer: rational

Question 5

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: The recent acts of vandalism in the country cannot be ignored.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Vandalism” refers to the willful destruction or damage of property. It is often associated with violent or destructive acts against public or private assets, such as smashing windows or defacing buildings. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: vandalism. Domain: public order and property damage. We must choose the closest meaning among the options provided. Concept / Approach: Since vandalism is destructive in nature, the best single-word approximation among the choices is “violence,” which captures the forceful, damaging aspect. While no option says “destruction” explicitly, “violence” conveys the severity and damaging intent better than the others. Step-by-Step Solution: Define the keyword: vandalism = deliberate property damage.Evaluate choices: “disturbance” (mere disorder), “ravage” (verb, to devastate), “provocation” (incitement), “violence” (force causing harm/damage).Select the noun that most tightly aligns with destructive acts on property: “violence.”Check fit in sentence meaning. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “The recent acts of violence against property cannot be ignored.” This reflects the essence of vandalism. Why Other Options Are Wrong: disturbance: could be noise or disorder without damage. ravage: primarily a verb; as a noun (“ravage”/“ravages”) it denotes results of devastation but is less precise here. provocation: means incitement, not damage. Common Pitfalls: Equating any public disorder with vandalism; vandalism specifically involves damaging property. Final Answer: violence

Question 6

Phrasal Verbs – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined phrasal verb in context. Sentence: It took him a long time to come round after the operation.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In medical contexts, “come round” (or “come around”) commonly means to regain consciousness or to recover after anesthesia or illness. Understanding phrasal verbs is critical because their meanings are often idiomatic rather than literal combinations of the verb and particle. Given Data / Assumptions: Target phrasal verb: come round. Context: after a surgical operation. We need the best single-word paraphrase. Concept / Approach: Post-surgery, “come round” is used when a patient wakes up from anesthesia or begins to recover. Among the options, “recover” captures this meaning most accurately in a general sense, covering both regaining consciousness and improving in health. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the context: postoperative period.Map “come round” to the typical medical meaning: regain consciousness / recover.Compare options: “walk,” “move,” and “eat” are unrelated activities and do not reflect postoperative awakening.Choose “recover.” Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “It took him a long time to recover after the operation.” This keeps the sentence natural and accurate. Why Other Options Are Wrong: walk: a specific action, not the general sense of regaining health or consciousness. move: too broad and not idiomatic for postoperative awakening. eat: unrelated to anesthesia recovery. Common Pitfalls: Interpreting phrasal verbs literally; here “round” does not mean physically going around but returning to normal consciousness. Final Answer: recover

Question 7

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: I don't like alien fashions.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Alien” can mean “foreign” (from another country or culture) or “strange/otherworldly.” In the context of fashion, the intended meaning is “foreign,” i.e., originating outside one’s own culture or country. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: alien. Context: fashions (styles, clothing). We must choose a near-synonym that suits cultural origin, not strangeness per se. Concept / Approach: When “alien” modifies cultural artifacts (e.g., customs, fashions), it most commonly means “foreign.” Words like “extraneous” mean irrelevant, while “exotic” implies appealing strangeness, and “unusual” means uncommon; none equal “foreign” exactly. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret domain: cultural styles.Pick the sense of alien = foreign origin.Compare options and eliminate those about relevance (“extraneous”) or rarity/appeal (“unusual,” “exotic”).Select “foreign.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “I don’t like foreign fashions.” This is idiomatic and precise. Why Other Options Are Wrong: extraneous: means irrelevant to the matter at hand. unusual: focuses on rarity, not origin. exotic: implies alluring strangeness, not simply foreignness. Common Pitfalls: Choosing “exotic” because fashions can be exotic; however, “alien” here is neutral about appeal and centers on origin. Final Answer: foreign

Question 8

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: Catching snakes can be hazardous for people untrained in the art.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Hazardous” is widely used in safety and risk contexts to mean “dangerous” or “involving risk.” The sentence concerns the risk of catching snakes without training, so the most accurate synonym must convey danger, not merely complexity or effort. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: hazardous. Context: catching snakes (risk of bites, venom, accidents). We need a precise synonym. Concept / Approach: While “tricky” and “difficult” suggest challenge, and “harmful” suggests causing harm, “hazardous” specifically denotes situations with inherent danger. “Dangerous” is the standard one-word synonym in safety and occupational texts. Step-by-Step Solution: Define hazardous = involving danger or risk.Evaluate options: “dangerous” maps exactly; others only partially overlap.Choose the term that preserves the risk emphasis.Check sentence for natural fit. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “Catching snakes can be dangerous …” This communicates the intended caution cleanly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: tricky: implies complexity, not risk. harmful: usually describes effects, not the risky nature of an activity. difficult: measures effort, not danger. Common Pitfalls: Equating difficulty with danger; they are related but not identical. Final Answer: dangerous

Question 9

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: The inspector was a vigilant young man.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Vigilant” describes a state of careful watchfulness, alertness, and readiness to notice danger or problems. For roles like inspectors, guards, and auditors, vigilance is a key professional attribute. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: vigilant. Context: personal attribute of an inspector. We must find the closest synonym. Concept / Approach: Among the choices, “watchful” directly expresses vigilant’s core meaning. “Intelligent,” “ambitious,” and “smart” relate to cognitive ability or drive, not sustained alertness. Step-by-Step Solution: Define vigilant = alert, watchful, on guard.Scan options: “watchful” is a direct synonym; others address different traits.Select the precise match.Confirm by substitution for naturalness. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “The inspector was a watchful young man.” The sentence remains accurate and idiomatic. Why Other Options Are Wrong: intelligent: about intellect, not alertness. ambitious: about drive/aspiration. smart: informal for clever or well-dressed; not the same as vigilant. Common Pitfalls: Choosing “intelligent” because inspectors often are; the word tested is about alertness, not IQ. Final Answer: watchful

Question 10

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: I wrote to him as lately as last week.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In older or formal usage, “as lately as” means “as recently as.” The sentence asserts that the writing occurred not long ago, specifically last week. Given Data / Assumptions: Phrase: “as lately as”. Time marker: last week. We must pick the synonym that preserves the temporal sense. Concept / Approach: “Lately” by itself means “recently.” In the set phrase “as lately as,” the meaning remains the same and is often used for emphasis that something happened very recently. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “as lately as” → as recently as.Check options: “immediately” (at once), “early” (opposite of late), “recently” (correct), “late” (time-of-day or tardiness).Select “recently.”Confirm with the explicit time reference “last week.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “I wrote to him as recently as last week.” This matches normal modern usage. Why Other Options Are Wrong: immediately: too strong and different meaning. early: unrelated to recency in this sense. late: antonym of early; does not mean recent. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “late”/“lately”: “late” relates to tardiness or recent death (the late Mr. X), while “lately” means recently. Final Answer: recently

Question 11

Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: Many species of animals have become extinct during the last hundred years.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Extinct” describes a species that no longer exists anywhere on Earth. In conservation and biology, this term signals a complete disappearance of a species’ living members. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: extinct. Context: biodiversity loss over a century. We need the closest single-word paraphrase among the options. Concept / Approach: Because “extinct” means there are no surviving individuals, the best available match is “non-existent.” Although “extinct” is a technical biological term, “non-existent” captures the total absence in general English. Step-by-Step Solution: Define: extinct = no longer existing.Scan options: “aggressive” (behavioral trait), “non-existent” (total absence), “scattered” (dispersed), “feeble” (weak).Select “non-existent.”Validate by substitution to ensure the sentence remains accurate. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “Many species of animals have become non-existent …” While less technical, it conveys the same core meaning of absence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: aggressive: unrelated to existence. scattered: implies distribution, not extinction. feeble.: weakness does not imply non-existence; also punctuation indicates a typo. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “endangered” (high risk) with “extinct” (already gone). “Non-existent” aligns with the latter. Final Answer: non-existent

Question 12

Vocabulary (Synonym) – Choose the option that best matches the meaning of the highlighted word in context. Sentence: The tablet “alleviated” the pain, and the patient was soon feeling much better.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks you to select the closest synonym of the word “alleviated” as used in a medical context: “The tablet alleviated the pain.” In healthcare and everyday English, alleviate means to make suffering less severe, not necessarily to eliminate it entirely. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: alleviated. Context: reduction of pain after taking a tablet. Answer choices: mitigated, moderated, removed, lightened. Concept / Approach: We look for a word that conveys partial or substantial reduction in intensity. In pain management, standard collocations are “alleviate pain,” “mitigate symptoms,” and “relieve discomfort.” While several options seem close, one best captures the precise sense of lowering severity without implying total elimination. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “alleviate”: to ease or reduce severity; to relieve.Compare with options: “mitigate” = reduce severity or harmfulness; very close in register and meaning.Check “moderate”: can mean to make less extreme, but is less idiomatic with “pain.”Check “lighten”: informal and typically used for moods/loads; acceptable but less precise in medical style.Check “remove”: implies complete elimination, which is stronger than “alleviate.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute each option into the sentence: “The tablet mitigated the pain” reads naturally in clinical or formal writing. “Removed the pain” overstates; most analgesics relieve rather than eradicate. “Moderated the pain” and “lightened the pain” are intelligible but not the best collocations. Why Other Options Are Wrong: moderated: Grammatically fine but not the most idiomatic with pain. removed: Implies total elimination, which is not the meaning of alleviate. lightened: Informal; better for “load” or “mood,” not precise here. Common Pitfalls: Confusing degrees of change: “alleviate/mitigate” (reduce) vs “remove/cure” (eliminate). Exams often test this nuance in medical or legal contexts. Final Answer: mitigated

Question 13

Vocabulary (Closest Meaning) – Choose the option that best matches the sense of the highlighted word in context. Sentence: The International Community may begin to doubt the “credentials” of the largest democracy in the world.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In diplomacy and public discourse, “credentials” often extends beyond documents to mean a state’s credibility or standing. The sentence suggests that the global community may doubt the nation’s legitimacy or reliability in democratic practice, not its finances or abstract doctrines. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: credentials in geopolitical rhetoric. Sense focus: credibility/standing, not paperwork alone. Options include principles, dependability, loan capacity, trustworthiness. Concept / Approach: We must choose a near-synonym that captures “credibility” or “repute.” While “dependability” is close, “trustworthiness” directly captures the evaluative belief in a country’s claims and behavior, aligning with “doubt the credentials” as “doubt the credibility.” Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “credentials” contextually: reputation for being what it claims (a functioning democracy).Map to core meaning: credibility/trustworthiness.Evaluate choices: “trustworthiness” aligns most precisely with “credibility.”Reject off-target senses: “capacity to return loans” is financial; “principles” are ideals, not credibility. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “begin to doubt the trustworthiness/credibility of the largest democracy.” The sentence remains natural and semantically equivalent, confirming the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: principles: Means moral tenets; not a synonym for credentials. dependability: Close, but typically about consistent performance; “trustworthiness” better matches credibility. capacity to return loans: Irrelevant to democratic credentials. Common Pitfalls: Equating “credentials” only with documents; in rhetoric it often means broader credibility or bona fides. Final Answer: trustworthiness

Question 14

Vocabulary (Synonym) – Choose the word that most closely matches the highlighted term. Sentence: They were totally unaware of the “impending” disaster.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Impending” describes something that is about to happen soon. It emphasizes nearness in time, not necessarily the level of danger (although context may be dangerous). We must select the closest synonym based on temporal imminence. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: impending. Context: a disaster approaching soon. Options mix time (imminent/possible) and quality (threatening/terrible). Concept / Approach: Match the time sense. “Imminent” directly means “about to happen,” which is the core meaning of “impending.” Other choices either describe danger level or mere possibility and do not encode immediacy as precisely. Step-by-Step Solution: Define “impending”: forthcoming soon; approaching.Compare: “imminent” = about to occur; perfect match.“threatening”: signals danger but not timing.“possible”: indicates chance, not nearness.“terrible”: value judgment, not timing. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “unaware of the imminent disaster” is a common collocation in news writing, confirming equivalence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: threatening: Focuses on menace, not immediacy. terrible: Describes severity, not time. possible: Lacks certainty and closeness. Common Pitfalls: Choosing a word that captures fear or severity but misses the crucial “soon” aspect. “Impending” is about timing first. Final Answer: imminent

Question 15

Vocabulary (Best Replacement) – Pick the word that most appropriately replaces the highlighted verb in this policy context. Sentence: The general policies will “relieve” the sufferings of the common man.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence speaks about public policies reducing suffering. We need the most idiomatic replacement for “relieve” in this humanitarian context. Several choices are similar, but usage with “suffering(s)” determines the best fit. Given Data / Assumptions: Noun: sufferings (plural), i.e., hardships, distress. Register: formal/public policy statement. Candidates: alleviate, mitigate, moderate, abate. Concept / Approach: All four words suggest reduction. However, “alleviate suffering” is a fixed and highly common collocation in social policy, medicine, and humanitarian discourse. The others are suitable with different nouns (e.g., mitigate risk, moderate tone, abate noise/rain). Collocational strength matters in close-choice questions. Step-by-Step Solution: Match collocation: “alleviate suffering” is standard and precise.“mitigate” is strong but pairs more with risk, impact, harm.“moderate” typically affects intensity of behavior/opinion.“abate” is common with conditions like pain, storm, or prices. Verification / Alternative check: Searchable phrase frequency (in corpora/dictionaries) overwhelmingly supports “alleviate suffering” as the canonical pairing, confirming best choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: mitigate: Good near-synonym but less idiomatic with “suffering.” moderate: Usually about tempering extremes, not hardships. abate: Often intransitive with phenomena; less natural with “sufferings.” Common Pitfalls: Picking any synonym without checking collocation. In verbal ability, the “best” answer often hinges on customary pairings. Final Answer: alleviate

Question 16

Vocabulary (Synonym) – Choose the word that best matches the meaning of the highlighted term. Sentence: The underworld still makes solid profit out of “illicit” liquor.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Illicit” refers to something forbidden by law, rules, or custom. In legal and journalistic usage, “illicit liquor” denotes alcohol produced, transported, or sold unlawfully (for example, bootlegging). We must choose the closest synonym that fits seamlessly in this context. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: illicit. Domain: law enforcement/organized crime. Options include indigenous, illegitimate, illegal, country. Concept / Approach: The exact legal synonym is “illegal” (against the law). “Illegitimate” can sometimes mean unlawful, but more commonly refers to non-marital birth or lacking official status, so it is less precise here. “Indigenous” and “country” are unrelated to legality and instead indicate origin or rural style. Step-by-Step Solution: Define “illicit” → unlawful, forbidden.Map to closest legal term → “illegal”.Reject “illegitimate”: ambiguous and often social/hereditary in sense.Reject “indigenous/country”: off-topic; about origin or style. Verification / Alternative check: Replace in context: “illegal liquor” is a standard phrase in legal reporting; “illegitimate liquor” is uncommon and potentially confusing. Why Other Options Are Wrong: indigenous: Means native to a place; not about legality. illegitimate: Broader/ambiguous; not the best legal synonym here. country: Describes rustic style; irrelevant. Common Pitfalls: Assuming near-morphological similarity (illicit/illegitimate) equals exact synonymy. Precision with legal adjectives matters. Final Answer: illegal

Question 17

Vocabulary (Closest Meaning) – Choose the option that best matches the sense of the highlighted verb. Sentence: True religion does not require one to “proselytise” through guile or force.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Proselytise” is a term used in religious and ideological contexts. It means to try to convert someone to one’s faith, opinion, or cause. The sentence emphasizes that genuine religion does not demand conversion tactics based on deception or coercion. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: proselytise. Context: religion, persuasion, ethics. Options: translate, hypnotise, attack, convert. Concept / Approach: Select the option that captures the act of seeking adherents. “Convert” (verb) precisely matches “proselytise.” Other options belong to different semantic fields (language, psychology, violence) and do not reflect recruitment to a belief system. Step-by-Step Solution: Define “proselytise” → attempt to convert someone.Identify direct synonym → “convert.”Exclude unrelated actions: translate (language), hypnotise (induce trance), attack (physical/verbal aggression).Confirm with the sentence’s ethical contrast: guile/force are methods used by aggressive proselytisers. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “does not require one to convert others through guile or force.” The meaning remains intact, confirming the synonymy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: translate: Language activity; not recruitment. hypnotise: Psychological technique; unrelated. attack: Violence; not the act of persuasion to a creed. Common Pitfalls: Confusing proselytise with evangelise; both involve conversion efforts. Here, “convert” is the clean, one-word match among the choices. Final Answer: convert

Question 18

Vocabulary (Synonym) – Choose the option that best captures the meaning of the highlighted adjective. Sentence: The small boy was able to give a “graphic” description of the thief.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Although “graphic” can relate to visual art, in the phrase “graphic description” it means vivid, detailed, and powerfully clear in words. The task is to pick the closest synonym in this discourse context, not the visual-arts sense. Given Data / Assumptions: Collocation: “graphic description” (verbal vividness). Options include nouns (picture, drawing) and adjectives (vivid, broad). We need an adjective matching intensity and detail. Concept / Approach: Match part of speech and meaning. “Vivid” is the standard adjective for descriptions that strongly evoke images. “Picture” and “drawing” are literal visuals, not adjectives; “broad” means general, the opposite of detailed. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify sense of “graphic”: intense, explicit, detailed.Choose adjective with same sense: “vivid.”Eliminate noun options: “picture” and “drawing.”Eliminate antonym/near-miss: “broad” = general, not detailed. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “give a vivid description” is a common and idiomatic expression, confirming the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: picture/drawing: Incorrect part of speech and wrong sense. broad: Opposes the specificity implied by “graphic.” Common Pitfalls: Associating “graphic” only with images. In rhetoric, it highlights verbal clarity and detail. Final Answer: vivid

Question 19

Vocabulary (Closest Meaning) – Choose the option that best matches the sense of the highlighted noun. Sentence: “I have learnt a great deal working in factories, and for a time I've even been a weaver. Here are my ‘testimonials’, Mr. Davis.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In employment contexts, “testimonials” typically means letters of reference or certificates attesting to someone’s skills and character. The speaker is applying for work and offers documents to the employer, Mr. Davis, which clarifies the sense required. Given Data / Assumptions: Target noun: testimonials (job-application setting). Pragmatics: items handed over are documents. Options: witnesses, testaments, tokens, credentials. Concept / Approach: We must select a word meaning documentary proof of ability or reputation. “Credentials” (qualifications, references) matches perfectly. The other options either involve people, religious statements, or symbolic objects, none of which fit the hiring context as closely. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “testimonials” as reference letters/certificates.Choose “credentials”: documents proving one’s competence/character.Exclude “witnesses”: persons, not papers.Exclude “testaments”: religious/solemn declarations; wrong register.Exclude “tokens”: mere symbols; too vague. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “Here are my credentials, Mr. Davis” is idiomatic when handing over references at an interview, confirming the meaning match. Why Other Options Are Wrong: witnesses: Human testimony, not documents handed over. testaments: Typically religious or formal oaths; not job references. tokens: Symbols or small gifts; not documentary proof. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “testimonial” (a statement/letter praising someone) with “testament” (a solemn declaration), which are false friends in such questions. Final Answer: credentials

Question 20

Vocabulary (Closest Meaning) – Choose the option that best matches the highlighted verb. Sentence: The claims of students look hollow when they “attribute” their poor performance to the difficulty of the examination.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The verb “attribute … to …” means to regard something as being caused by or the result of something else. In formal registers, “impute … to …” is a close synonym that also means ascribe or credit (often with a negative nuance). We must pick the nearest equivalent. Given Data / Assumptions: Target structure: attribute X to Y. Context: students ascribe failure to exam difficulty. Options: infer, impute, inhere, inundate. Concept / Approach: “Impute” aligns with “attribute” in the causation/ascription frame. “Infer” is the reader’s conclusion from evidence; “inhere” means to exist essentially within; “inundate” means to flood or overwhelm. Only “impute” shares the grammatical pattern and meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the causative frame: attribute X to Y.Select synonym with same frame: impute X to Y.Eliminate semantic mismatches: infer (deduce), inhere (belong by nature), inundate (flood).Confirm register: both “attribute” and “impute” are formal/academic. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “impute their poor performance to the difficulty …” reads naturally in analytical writing, confirming the equivalence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: infer: Direction of meaning reversed; not “ascribe,” but “conclude.” inhere: No causal/ascriptive sense. inundate: Physical/metaphorical flooding; unrelated. Common Pitfalls: Confusing reasoning verbs (infer) with causation/ascription verbs (attribute/impute). Watch the “X to Y” construction. Final Answer: impute

Synonyms Questions