IIFT 2014 VARC | Previous Year IIFT Paper
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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
No club in the English Premier League generated less money than Wigan Athletic. No club in the Premier League had so little history, or so few fans. Ever since 2005, when they won promotion to the top flight for the first time in their existence, Wigan started the season listening to prophecies of doom. 2013 was the year that football gravity finally caught up with them, and they returned to their 'rightful' place among the also-rans. Even as the naysayers and doubters were ignoring seven years of wrong forecasts and congratulating themselves for seeing Wigan's fate, this little David took out one last Goliath. Manchester City, in the FA Cup final.
In their book Why England Lose, the football journalist Simon Kuper and the economist Stefan Szymanski found that money matters a great deal for the success of football clubs. According to their calculations, 92 per cent of the differences in English football clubs' league position can be explained by a club's relative wage bill. It might not be the case that the team with the highest wage bill finishes top each and every season, but over the long term, the correlation is uncanny. At the other end of the table, it seems inevitable that, eventually, in football poverty will drag you down.
For Wigan, this was unfortunate. The annual reports into football's finances prepared by the accountants Deloitte must have made miserable reading for anyone who followed the club: their turnover, wages and attendance were all fractions of the Premier League's giants. And yet Wigan managed to avoid relegation for seven years. It was almost pathological. They defied the laws of football economics. They disobeyed the laws of football gravity.
Part of the reason Wigan managed to survive so long in the rarefied air of the Premier League is Dave Whelan, the local magnate who owns the club. Wigan's average attendance was just 17,000 - they rarely sold out their home ground, the DW Stadium, its initials a (self-awarded) tribute to the club's benefactor - on a par with the likes of Vitesse Arnhem or the average German second-division side, but half the Premier League's average. That's a considerable shortfall in revenue. It's the same when we look at television and commercial earnings: in 2010-11, they earned £50.5 million from all of these streams - a tidy sum, to be sure, but half what the average Premier League team took. Only because of Whelan's enduring generosity did the club avoid sinking into the red. In 2011-12, he wrote off a £48 million loan to the club to balance the books. Financially, Wigan could not compete. And yet on the pitch they did.
In truth, Wigan did not dramatically outperform their wage bill, the gauge - for Kuper and Szymanski - of a manager's true impact. From 2006 to 2011, they finished eighteenth, fifteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth and sixteenth in the salary league, not far off their finishes in the actual division. Yet Wigan's continued survival was still, as the respected financial blog The Swiss Ramble had it, 'a minor modem miracle'. To explain why. we have to consider the odds that - given their spending on wages - Wigan would have been relegated well before the final axe fell in 2013. To do that properly, we need to calculate the odds of relegation as a function of a club's payroll.
The notional odds of relegation from the Premier League in any given season, for any team, are 15 per cent: three sides out of twenty endure the pain of demotion every year. But of course those three clubs are not simply drawn out of a hat: money does matter. More specifically, when we examined twenty years of club finances with the help of data from Deloitte, we found that a club's odds of relegation are 7.2 per cent if its wage spends is greater than average. In other words, you can halve the chances of being relegated just by spending a little more on your salaries than the average side. But for clubs that spend less, the odds of relegation shoot up from 15 to 21 per cent. For a team that spends as little as Wigan or less, these odds can even be as high as 44 per cent in any given season.
Spending less isn't a death sentence, but you are flirting with the chair. And spending less than the average year after year means the odds of relegation accumulate. For Wigan, the odds that they would be relegated at some point over the five Premier League seasons to 2012 were 95 per cent. It was, both mathematically and financially, almost a certainty. With wage bills four, two, and one and a half times Wigan's £40 million, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Fulham faced odds of demotion of 0, 31 and 69 per cent, respectively.
All this suggests that Wigan's continued survival was more than just good luck, and it was not simply attributable to their individual wage spending in any given year: the numbers were squarely against them. So Wigan's story is not just about money, but also how that money is put to use. By any standard measure Wigan had been a mediocre team for a long time. They conceded more goals than they scored in every season they were in the Premier League. They tended to have more possession than most of their peers at the wrong end of the table, but much of that came from the sterile domination of their own half. Roberto Martinez's team, though, had been doing more than just passing the ball around at the back and getting lucky.
With the help of Ramzi Ben Said, a student at Cornell University, and the performance chalkboards published online by the British newspaper the Guardian in conjunction with Opta Sports, we tried to establish how Wigan went about scoring their goals in the 2010-11 season. Ramzi collected and coded a year's worth of data of attacking production (how each Premier League club scored their goals that season).
The data showed that the vast majority - 66 per cent - of the 1.4 goals a team scored in the average match that year came from open play. By far the smallest proportion of goals came from direct free kicks: just 2.8 per cent per team, per match. The average team produced one goal a game from open play, but needed to take thirty-five direct free kicks before finding the net that way.
But Martinez's Wigan was not your typical club. In 2010-11, they created goals in extremely unusual ways. They relied much less on traditional open-play goals than most, and did not bother with anything that resembled a patient build-up. In half their games they failed to score from open play at all. When they did, they tended to come from what are known among analysts as 'fast breaks' - lightning-quick counter-attacks. And the rest of their goals came from free kicks. Their output in both these categories was exceptional. They scored twice as many goals on the break as the average side, and they scored almost four times as many goals from free kicks.
Rather than choosing one or the other, Martinez as a manager seemed to have forsaken both high frequency - not scoring from the most common source of goals - as well as good odds - trying to score from low probability shots (free kicks) - as a way to win matches. Martinez was not trying to fight his opponents in a conventional way. Instead, he was beating them any way he could. Albert Larcada, an analyst at ESPN's Stats & Information Group, filled in the picture further. Using Opta's master file of play-by-play data, Larcada discovered Wigan were unusual in a number of other ways.
Not only did they score from fast breaks and free kicks, but when Larcada calculated the average distances from which Premier League clubs attempted shots that season. Wigan were the overall league leaders. Their average shooting distance was some twenty-six yards. This looked deliberate: their goals came from a longer distance than any of their peers - an average of 18.5 yards, way ahead of second-placed Tottenham, while their players Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega both finished in the top five scorers from distance in the Premier League in 2010-11.
Martinez was thinking outside the box in the most literal fashion. Indeed, his team had the lowest number of goals scored from inside the penalty area of any side in the league - just twenty-eight, compared to Manchester United's sixty-nine. This sounds very defensive - hitting teams on the break, relying on set pieces and long-range shots - but Wigan's formations told a more nuanced story. Martinez's strategy relied on highly accurate long-range shooting, firing from distance - allowing his team to recover their defensive shape more easily - and persistence. He did not place any emphasis on corners - Wigan scored just one goal from a corner in the entire 2010-11 season - because it meant allowing his troops out of hiding and into open sight, leaving them vulnerable. Martinez was playing guerrilla football. He had his team lie in wait for their opponents and then punish them on the counter-attack. He employed sharpshooters, to let fly from distance, and snipers, to hit free kicks. His team were adaptable, unpredictable.
Identify the correct statement:
- A.
In terms of salary payments to the staff, Wigan was ranked fifteen during the 2009-10 season.
- B.
According to the article, the wage bill of Manchester United is two times the corresponding figure for Aston Villa.
- C.
According to the article, the research of Kuper and Szymanski revealed that if a football club is successful in including a number of highly paid footballers in its team, the club is more likely to win all major European tournaments.
- D.
For analysing the performance of the teams in English Premier League the above article has used the performance chalkboards published by the Guardian in its daily newspaper in conjunction with ESPN Sports.
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
Option 1 is incorrect as it is clearly stated in the passage, “From 2006 to 2011, they finished...sixteenth...in the salary league...”.
Option 2 is correct, as the passage states that “With wage bills four, two...times Wigan's £40 million, Manchester United, Aston Villa...”.
Option 3 is incorrect, since the passage merely states that “It might not be the case that the team with the highest wage bill finishes top each and every season...”.
Option 4 is incorrect, as the passage mentions Opta Sports and not ESPN Sports.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
As per the research conducted by the ESPN’s Stats & Information Group, the average distances from which Wigan Athletic attempted shots during 2010-11 was:
- A.
22 yards
- B.
20 yards
- C.
26 yards
- D.
18.5 yards
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
The passage clearly states that “Their average shooting distance was some twenty-six yards”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Match the following:
- A.
i-c, ii-b, iii-d, iv-a
- B.
i-d, ii-c, iii-a, iv-b
- C.
i-b, ii-a, iii-c, iv-d
- D.
i-d, ii-a, iii-b, iv-c
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
Hugo Rodallega is a player of Wigan Athletic.
Ramzi Ben Said is a student at Cornell University.
Roberto Martinez is the manager of Wigan Athletic.
Albert Larcada is an analyst at ESPN.
The above four combinations can be found in the passage.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Wigan’s playing style has been termed as ‘guerrilla football’ because:
- A.
Instead of deciding to play with a team full of superstars, they were relying mainly on junior players with less professional experience, which resulted into poorer performance of the team.
- B.
The team was among the lowest scoring teams in the English Premier League in all the years they played.
- C.
Instead of attacking style of playmaking the team played a counter-attack based game, and depended heavily on goals scored from distance and through free kicks, and getting back to defensive positions quickly.
- D.
All of the above
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
The key to the solution for this question lies in the term 'counter-attack'. As it has been clearly stated in the passage that “He had his team...punish them on the counter-attack.”, the correct option is 3.
The other options are not characteristics of 'guerrilla football', as given in the passage.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Identify the incorrect statement:
- A.
The data on club finances, collected by Deloitte in the last decade alone, indicates that the odds of relegation of an English Premier League team are 7.2 percent if the club’s spending on wage is greater than average.
- B.
The Article suggests that in 2010-11, an average English Premier League team earned around £101 million through television and commercial earnings.
- C.
The average attendance in Wigan’s matches was around 17,000 and their home matches were held at DW Stadium, named after Dave Whelan, the magnate and owner of the club.
- D.
During 2010-11, the goals scored by Wigan from free kicks were as high as almost four times as the goals scored by an average English Premier League team.
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect, because it is stated in the passage that “...when we examined twenty years of club finances with the help of data from Deloitte...”, while the statement mentions a decade.
Statement B is correct as it is stated in the passage, “...they earned £50.5 million …but half what the average Premium League team took”. This works out to £101 million.
Statement C is correct, as it is stated in the passage, “Wigan's average attendance was just 17,000...”.
Statement D is correct, as it is stated in the passage, “...they scored almost four times as many goals from free kicks.”.
Hence, the correct option 1.
Workspace:
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
The tight calendar had calmed him, as did the constant exertion of his authority as a judge. How he relished his power over the classes that had kept his family pinned under their heels for centuries - like the stenographer, for example, who was a Brahmin. There he was, now crawling into a tiny tent to the side, and there was Jemubhai reclining like a king in a bed carved out of teak, hung with mosquito netting.
"Bed tea", the cook would shout "Baaad tee". He would sit up to drink.
6.30: he'd bathe in water that had been heated over the fire so it was redolent with the smell of wood smoke and flecked with ash. With a dusting of powder he graced his newly washed face, with a daub of pomade, his hair. Crunched up toast like charcoal from having been toasted upon the flame, with marmalade over the burn.
8.30: he rode into the fields with the local officials and everyone else in the village going along for fun. Followed by an orderly holding an umbrella over his head to shield him from the glare, he measured the fields and checked to make sure his yield estimate matched the headman's statement. Farms were growing less than ten maunds an acre of rice or wheat, and at two rupees a maund, every single man in a village, sometimes, was in debt to the bania. (Nobody knew that Jemubhai himself was noosed, of course, that long ago in the little town of Piphit in Gujarat, money-lenders had sniffed out in him a winning combination of ambition and poverty ... that they still sat waiting cross-legged on a soiled mat in the market, snapping their toes, cracking their knuckles in anticipation of repayment .... )
2.00: after lunch, the judge sat at his desk under a tree to try cases, usually in a cross mood, for he disliked the informality, hated the splotch of leaf shadow on him imparting an untidy mongrel look. Also, there was a worse aspect of contamination and corruption: he heard cases in Hindi, but they were recorded in Urdu by the stenographer and translated by the judge into a second record in English, although his own command of Hindi and Urdu was tenuous; the witnesses who couldn't read at all put their thumbprints at the bottom of "Read Over and Acknowledged Correct", as instructed. Nobody could be sure how much of the truth had fallen between languages, between languages and illiteracy; the clarity that justice demanded was nonexistent. Still, despite the leaf shadow and language confusion, he acquired a fearsome reputation for his speech that seemed to belong to no language at all, and for his face like a mask that conveyed something beyond human fallibility. The expression and manner honed here would carry him, eventually, all the way to the high court in Lucknow where, annoyed by lawless pigeons shuttlecocking about those tall, shadowy halls, he would preside, white powdered wig over white powdered face, hammer in hand.
His photograph, thus attired, thus annoyed, was still up on the wall, in a parade of history glorifying the progress of Indian law and order.
4:30: tea had to be perfect, drop scones made in the frying pan. He would embark on them with forehead wrinkled, as if angrily mulling over something important, and then, as it would into his retirement, the draw of the sweet took over, and his stern work face would hatch an expression of tranquillity.
5:30: out he went into the countryside with his fishing rod or gun. The countryside was full of game; lariats of migratory birds lassoed the sky in October; quail and partridge with lines of babies strung out behind whirred by like nursery toys that emit sound with movement; pheasant - fat foolish creatures, made to be shot - went scurrying through the bushes. The thunder of gunshot roiled away, the leaves shivered, and he experienced the profound silence that could come only after violence. One thing was always missing, though, the proof of the pudding, the prize of the action. the manliness in manhood, the partridge for the pot. because he returned with - Nothing!
He was a terrible shot.
8:00: the cook saved his reputation, cooked a chicken, brought it forth, proclaimed it "roast bastard", just as in the Englishman's favourite joke book of natives using incorrect English. But sometimes, eating that roast bustard, the judge felt the joke might also be on him, and he called for another rum, took a big gulp, and kept eating feeling as if he were eating himself, since he, too, was (was he?) part of the fun ....
9:00: sipping Ovaltine, he filled out the registers with the day's gleanings. The Petromax lantern would be lit - what a noise it made - insects fording the black to dive - bomb him with soft flowers (moths), with iridescence (beetles). Lines, columns, and squares. He realized truth was best looked at in tiny aggregates, for many baby truths could yet add up to one big size unsavory lie. Last, in his diary also to be submitted to his superiors, he recorded the random observations of a cultured man, someone who was observant, schooled in literature as well as economics; and he made up hunting triumphs: two partridge ... one deer with thirty- inch horns....
11:00: he had a hot water bottle in winter, and, in all seasons, to the sound of the wind buffeting the trees and the cook's snoring, he fell asleep.
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
- A.
The judge used to visit the countryside to shoot game
- B.
The judge was not a Brahmin
- C.
The judge has good command over Hindi and Urdu
- D.
The judge owed money to moneylenders in Piphit
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
Option 1 can be affirmed from the “5.30 pm” extract of the passage.
The second sentence of the passage, “How he relished his power over the classes that had kept his family pinned under their heels for centuries – like the stenographer who was a brahmin” provides sufficient information to infer that the judge was not a brahmin.
The lines from the “2.00 pm” extract of the passage, “...although his own command of Hindi and Urdu was tenuous...” state explicitly that the judge did not have a proper understanding of these languages.
The key lies in the meaning of the word “tenuous”, which means 'lacking a sound basis, unsubstantiated'.
Through the last sentence of the “8.30 am” extract of the passage, “...nobody knew that Jemubhai (the judge) himself was noosed...” it can be inferred that he owed money.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
What always happened when the judge went to the countryside?
- A.
He could not hear any noise and there was only profound silence
- B.
He could not manage to hit a single bird
- C.
He could not get the proof that the pudding was made from the patridge
- D.
He could not see lariats of migratory birds
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
The passage states that the countryside was “full of game that emitted sounds with movement”; this contradicts option 1.
The last sentence from the “5.30 pm” extract of the passage, which provides details of the judge's countryside adventure, states explicitly that “One thing was always missing....(the judge) returned with - Nothing!”. This makes option 2 obvious.
The data mentioned in option 3 is a misinterpretation of the data in the passage.
Option 4 contradicts the data mentioned in the passage.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
People were in debt to the “bania” because:
- A.
Yield per acre did not appear to be very good.
- B.
Moneylenders in Piphit were asking all villagers for repayment.
- C.
People in the village spent too much time on hunting.
- D.
The fields were spoiled when the judge rode around to take measurements.
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
The “8.30 am” extract of the passage states “Farms were growing less...was in debt to the bania.”, which helps in zeroing-in on option 1.
The data mentioned in option 2 is logically inconsistent.
The data mentioned in options 3 and 4 do not find a mention in the passage, nor can they be inferred.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Which is the odd one out:
- A.
Lariat
- B.
Brood
- C.
Flock
- D.
Flight
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
“Lariat” means 'a long noosed rope used to catch animals and livestock'.
“Brood” means 'a breed, species, group or kind.'
“Flock” means 'a large group'.
“Flight” means 'a group of flying birds'.
All the options except option 1 are collective nouns.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
The movement to expel the Austrians from Italy and unite Italy under a republican government had been gaining momentum while Garibaldi was away. There was a growing clamour, not just from Giuseppe Mazzini's republicans, but from moderates as well, for a General capable of leading Italy to independence. Even the King of Piedmont, for whom Garibaldi was still an outlaw under sentence of death, subscribed to an appeal for a sword for the returning hero. Meanwhile, the 'year of revolutions', 1848, had occurred in which Louis Philippe had been toppled from the French throne. In Austria, an uprising triggered off insurrections in Venice and Milan, and the Austrian garrisons were forced out. The King of Piedmont, Charles Albert ordered his troops to occupy these cities. There had also been insurrections in Sicily, causing the King Ferdinand II, to grant major constitutional freedoms in 1849, prompting both the Pope and Charles Albert to grant further concessions.
Meanwhile, largely ignorant of these developments, Garibaldi was approaching Italy at a leisurely pace, arriving at Nice on 23 June 1848 to a tumultuous reception. The hero declared himself willing to fight and lay down his life for Charles Albert, who he now regarded as a bastion of Italian nationalism.
Mazzini and the republicans were horrified, regarding this as outright betrayal: did it reflect Garibaldi's innate simple-mindedness, his patriotism in the war against Austria, or was it part of a deal with the monarchy? Charles Albert had pardoned Garibaldi, but to outward appearances he was still very wary of the General and the Italian Legion he had amassed of 150 'brigands'. The two men met near Mantua, and the King appeared to dislike him instantly. He suggested that Garibaldi's men should join his army and that Garibaldi should go to Venice and captain a ship as a privateer against the Austrians.
Garibaldi, meanwhile, met his former hero Mazzini for the first time, and again the encounter was frosty. Seemingly rebuffed on all sides, Garibaldi considered going to Sicily to fight King Ferdinand II of Naples, but changed his mind when the Milanese offered him the post of General - something they badly needed when Charles Albert's Piedmontese army was defeated at Custoza by the Austrians. With around 1,000 men, Garibaldi marched into the mountains at Varese, commenting bitterly: 'The King of Sardinia may have a crown that he holds on to by dint of misdeeds and cowardice, but my comrades and I do not wish to hold on to our lives by shameful actions'.
The King of Piedmont offered an armistice to the Austrians and all the gains in northern Italy were lost again. Garibaldi returned to Nice and then across to Genoa, where he learned that, in September 1848, Ferdinand II had bombed Messina as a prelude to invasion - an atrocity which caused him to be dubbed 'King Bomba'. Reaching Livorno he was diverted yet again and set off across the Italian peninsula with 350 men to come to Venice's assistance, but on the way, in Bologna, he learned that the Pope had taken refuge with King Bomba. Garibaldi promptly altered course southwards towards Rome where he was greeted once again as a hero. Rome proclaimed itself a Republic. Garibaldi's Legion had swollen to nearly 1,300 men, and the Grand Duke of Tuscany fled Florence before the advancing republican force.
However, the Austrians marched southwards to place the Grand Duke of Tuscany back on his throne. Prince Louis Napoleon of France despatched an army of 7,000 men under General Charles Oudinot to the port of Civitavecchia to seize the city. Garibaldi was appointed as a General to defend Rome.
The republicans had around 9,000 men, and Garibaldi was given control of more than 4,000 to defend the Janiculum Hill, which was crucial to the defence of Rome, as it commanded the city over the Tiber. Some 5,000 well-equipped French troops arrived on 30 April 1849 at Porta Cavallegeri in the old walls of Rome, but tailed to get through, and were attacked from behind by Garibaldi, who led a baton charge and was grazed by a bullet slightly on his side. The French lost 500 dead and wounded, along with some 350 prisoners, to the Italians, 200 dead and wounded. It was a famous victory, wildly celebrated by the Romans into the night, and the French signed a tactical truce.
However, other armies were on the march: Bomba's 12,500-strong Neapolitan army was approaching from the south, while the Austrians had attacked Bologna in the north. Garibaldi too, a force out of Rome and engaged in a flanking movement across the Neapolitan army's rear at Castelli Romani; the Neapolitans attacked and were driven off leaving 50 dead. Garibaldi accompanied the Roman General, Piero Roselli, in an attack on the retreating Neapolitan army. Foolishly leading a patrol of his men right out in front of his forces, he tried to stop a group of his cavalry retreating and fell under their horses, with the enemy slashing at him with their sabres. He was rescued by his legionnaires, narrowly having avoided being killed, but Roselli had missed the chance to encircle the Neapolitan army.
Garibaldi boldly wanted to carry the fight down into the Kingdom of Naples, but Mazzini, who by now was effectively in charge of Rome, ordered him back to the capital to face the danger of Austrian attack from the north. In fact, it was the French who arrived on the outskirts of Rome first, with an army now reinforced by 30,000. Mazzini realized that Rome could not resist and ordered a symbolic stand within the city itself, rather than surrender, for the purposes of international propaganda and to keep the struggle alive, whatever the cost. On 3 June the French arrived in force and seized the strategic country house, Villa Pamphili.
Garibaldi rallied his forces and fought feverishly to retake the villa up narrow and steep city streets, capturing it, then losing it again. By the end of the day, the sides had 1,000 dead between them. Garibaldi once again had been in the thick of the fray, giving orders to his troops and -fighting, it was said, like a lion. Although beaten 'off for the moment, the French imposed a siege in the morning, starving the city of provisions and bombarding its beautiful centre.
On 30 June the French attacked again in force, while Garibaldi, at the head of his troops, fought back ferociously. But there was no prospect of holding the French off indefinitely, and Garibaldi, decided to take his men out of the city to continue resistance in the mountains. Mazzini fled to Britain while Garibaldi remained to fight for the cause. He had just 4,000 men, divided into two legions, and faced some 17,000 Austrians and Tuscans in the north, 30,000 Neapolitans and Spanish in the south, and 40,000 French in the west. He was being directly pursued by 8,000 French and was approaching Neapolitan and Spanish divisions of some 18,000 men. He stood no chance whatever. The rugged hill country was ideal, however, for his style of irregular guerrilla warfare, and he manoeuvred skilfully, marching and counter-marching in different directions, confounding his pursuers before finally aiming for Arezzo in the north. But his men were deserting in droves and local people were hostile to his army: he was soon reduced to 1500 men who struggled across the high mountain passes to San Marino where he found temporary. refuge.
The Austrians, now approaching, demanded that he go into exile in America. He was determined to fight on and urged the ill and pregnant Anita, his wife, to stay behind in San Marino, but she would not hear of it. The pair set off with 200 loyal soldiers along the mountain tracks to the Adriatic coast, from where Garibaldi intended to embark for Venice which was still valiantly holding out against the Austrians. They embarked aboard 13 fishing boats and managed to sail to within 50 miles of the Venetian lagoon before being spotted by an Austrian flotilla and fired upon.
Only two of Garibaldi's boats escaped. He carried Anita through the shallows to a beach and they moved further inland. The ailing Anita was placed in a cart and they reached a farmhouse, where she died. Her husband broke down into inconsolable wailing and she was buried in a shallow grave near the farmhouse, but was transferred to a churchyard a few days later. Garibaldi had no time to lose; he and his faithful companion Leggero escaped across the Po towards Ravenna.
At last Garibaldi was persuaded to abandon his insane attempts to reach Venice by sea and to return along less guarded routes on the perilous mountain paths across the Apennines towards the western coast of Italy. He visited his family in Nice for an emotional reunion with his mother and his three children - but lacked the courage to tell them what had happened to their mother.
Find the correct statement:
- A.
Garibaldi had a sore relationship with King Charles Albert before 1849, which however greatly improved in the subsequent period.
- B.
Garibaldi’s wife Anita Garibaldi passed away at a farmhouse, after their journey to Venice was interrupted by a Spanish flotilla.
- C.
After defeat of the republican army in the bottle of Rome, a total of 80000 foreign soldiers were moving in Italy across all directions, while Garibaldi was being directly pursued by 8000 French forces.
- D.
When Garibaldi and his wife left San Marino after threat from the Austrians, they were accompanied by 200 soldiers who were still loyal to him.
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect, because it says that Garibaldi's relationship with King Charles Albert “greatly improved” after 1849. The passage does not support this, as it is mentioned that “...the King appeared to dislike him (Garibaldi) instantly.” Eliminate this option.
Statement B can be eliminated, as it mentions “Spanish flotilla”, whereas the passage contradicts this with its mention of an “Austrian flotilla”.
Statement C can be eliminated, as the passage states that “...(Garibaldi) faced some 17,000 Austrians and Tuscans in the north, 30,000 Neapolitans and Spanish in the south, and 40,000 French in the west”. This adds up to 87,000 soldiers, as opposed to 80,000 foreign soldiers mentioned in this statement.
Statement D is the correct statement, as it is mentioned in the third-last paragraph of the passage.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Which of the following statements can be deduced from the passage?
- A.
King of Naples was given the name ‘King Bomba’, when he bombed Milan before the invasion that he was planning.
- B.
During the defence of Rome from the attack of Austrian troops, Garibaldi positioned his army near the Janiculum Hill.
- C.
While Garibaldi was fighting in Italy for unification of the country, his children stayed at Nice.
- D.
At the time when Garibaldi returned to meet King Charles Albert at Mantua, Giuseppe Mazzini was a major leader of the Italian moderates.
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect, because it mentions that the King of Naples bombed Milan and was hence, given the name 'King Bomba'. According to the passage, he was given this name after the bombing of Messina.
Statement B is incorrect, because according to the passage Garibaldi positioned his army near Janiculum Hill during the defence of Rome from French troops. This option mentions Austrian troops and can therefore, be eliminated.
Statement C is correct, as it is mentioned verbatim in the last paragraph of the passage.
Statement D is incorrect, because according to the passage Giuseppe Mazzini was the leader of the republicans and not the moderates.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Match the Following:
- A.
i-c, ii-a, iii-d, iv-b
- B.
i-c, ii-b, iii-a, iv-d
- C.
i-a, ii-c, iii-d, iv-b
- D.
i-b, ii-a, iii-d, iv-c
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
Charles Albert was the King of Piedmont.
Ferdinand II was the King of Naples.
Louis Philippe was the King of France.
Grand Duke belonged to Tuscany.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
After his failure to reach Venice, Garibaldi left towards _______ with _______.
- A.
Arezzo, Oudinot
- B.
Ravenna, Leggero
- C.
Livorno, Anita
- D.
Varese, Roselli
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
The passage states that Garibaldi “...and his faithful companion Leggero escaped...towards Ravenna”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Find the incorrect statement:
- A.
In 1848, when the battle for unification of Italy was going on, the Pope had taken refuge with the King of Piedmont.
- B.
When the news of Garibaldi’s decision to return to Italy and fight under King Charles Albert reached the republicans, they initially suspected his ulterior motive.
- C.
After the fighting at Castelli Romani, Garibaldi’s intention was to fight down into the Kingdom of Naples, a decision which was not approved by Mazzini.
- D.
Around the time Rome was declared a Republic, a French army under the command of General Oudinot were despatched to Civitavecchia by Prince Louis Napolean.
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect, because the passage mentions that the Pope had taken refuge with the King of Naples, not Piedmont.
Statement B is correct, since the third paragraph of the passage mentions that Mazzini and the republicans suspected that Garibaldi may have had “...a deal with the monarchy.”
Statement C is correct, since the passage states that “Garibaldi boldly wanted to carry the fight down into the Kingdom of Naples, but Mazzini...ordered him back to the capital...”. The paragraph preceding this chronicles the fighting at Castelli Romani.
Statement D is correct, since the passage mentions that “...Prince Louis Napoleon of France despatched an army...under General Oudinot to the port of Civitavecchia...”. The previous paragraph mentions that Rome had just been declared a Republic.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
Public sector banks (PSBs) are pulling back on credit disbursement to lower rated companies, as they keep a closer watch on using their own scarce capital and the banking regulator heightens its scrutiny on loans being sanctioned.
Bankers say the Reserve Bank of India has started strictly monitoring how banks are utilizing their capital. Any big-ticket loan to lower rated companies is being questioned. Almost all large public sector banks that reported their first quarter results so far have showed a contraction in credit disbursal on a year-to-date basis, as most banks have shifted to a strategy of lending largely to government-owned "Navratna" companies and highly rated private sector companies. On a sequential basis too, banks have grown their loan book at an anaemic rate.
To be sure, in the first quarter, loan demand is not quite robust. However, in the first quarter last year, banks had healthier loan growth on a sequential basis than this year. The country's largest lender State Bank of India grew its loan book at only 1.21% quarter-on-quarter. Meanwhile, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank shrank their loan book by 1.97% and 0.66% respectively in the first quarter on a sequential basis.
Last year, State Bank of India had seen sequential loan growth of 3.37%, while Bank of Baroda had seen a smaller contraction of 0.22%. Punjab National Bank had seen a growth of 0.46% in loan book between the January-March and April-June quarters last year.
On a year-to-date basis, SBI's credit growth fell more than 2%, Bank of Baroda's credit growth contracted 4.71% and Bank of India's credit growth shrank about 3%. SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya said the bank's year-to-date credit growth fell as the bank focused on ‘A’ rated customers. About 90% of the loans in the quarter were given to high-rated companies. "Part of this was a conscious decision and part of it is because we actually did not get good fresh proposals in the quarter," Bhattacharya said.
According to bankers, while part of the credit contraction is due to the economic slowdown, capital constraints and reluctance to take on excessive risk has also played a role. "Most of the PSU banks are facing pressure on capital adequacy. It is challenging to maintain 9% core capital adequacy. The pressure on monitoring capital adequacy and maintaining capital buffer is so strict that you cannot grow aggressively," said Rupa Rege Nitsure, chief economist at Bank of Baroda.
Nitsure said capital conservation pressures will substantially cut down "irrational expansion of loans" in some smaller banks, which used to grow at a rate much higher than the industry average. The companies coming to banks, in turn, will have to make themselves more creditworthy for banks to lend. "The conservation of capital is going to inculcate a lot of discipline in both banks and borrowers," she said.
For every loan that a bank disburses, some amount of money is required to be set aside as provision. Lower the credit rating of the company, riskier the loan is perceived to be. Thus, the bank is required to set aside more capital for a lower rated company than what it otherwise would do for a higher rated client. New international accounting norms, known as Basel III norms, require banks to maintain higher capital and higher liquidity. They also require a bank to set aside "buffer" capital to meet contingencies. As per the norms, a bank's total capital adequacy ratio should be 12% at any time, in which tier-I, or the core capital, should be at 9%. Capital adequacy is calculated by dividing total capital by risk-weighted assets. If the loans have been given to lower rated companies, risk weight goes up and capital adequacy falls.
According to bankers, all loan decisions are now being assessed on the basis of the capital that needs to be set aside as provision against the loan and as a result, loans to lower rated companies are being avoided. According to a senior banker with a public sector bank, the capital adequacy situation is so precarious in some banks that if the risk weight increases a few basis points, the proposal gets cancelled. The banker did not wish to be named. One basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point. Bankers add that the Reserve Bank of India has also started strictly monitoring how banks are utilising their capital. Any big-ticket loan to lower rated companies is being questioned.
In this scenario, banks are looking for safe bets, even if it means that profitability is being compromised. "About 25% of our loans this quarter was given to Navratna companies, who pay at base rate. This resulted in contraction of our net interest margin (NIM)," said Bank of India chairperson V.R. Iyer, while discussing the bank's first quarter results with the media. Bank of India's NIM, or the difference between yields on advances and cost of deposits, a key gauge of profitability, fell in the first quarter to 2.45% from 3.07% a year ago, as the bank focused on lending to highly rated customers.
Analysts, however, say the strategy being followed by banks is short-sighted. "A high rated client will take loans at base rate and will not give any fee income to a bank. A bank will never be profitable that way. Besides, there are only so many PSU companies to chase. All banks cannot be chasing them all at a time. Fact is, the banks are badly hit by NPA and are afraid to lend now to big projects. They need capital, true, but they have become risk-averse," said a senior analyst with a local brokerage who did not wish to be named.
Various estimates suggest that Indian banks would require more than Rs. 2 trillion of additional capital to have this kind of capital adequacy ratio by 2019. The central government, which owns the majority share of these banks, has been cutting down on its commitment to recapitalize the banks. In 2013-14, the government infused Rs. 14,000 crore in its banks. However, in 2014-15, the government will infuse just Rs. 11,200 crore.
Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?
- A.
Last year banks had recorded a healthier loan growth in the first quarter over the preceding quarter, as compared to this year.
- B.
Risk level of loans move in the same direction as the credit ratings of a company.
- C.
Bank of Baroda shrank its loan book by less than 1% in the first quarter this year as compared to the preceding quarter.
- D.
Punjab National Bank recorded a decline in its loan books by less than 1% in the first quarter this year as compared to the same quarter last year.
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
The question stem requires a correct statement.
Option 2 is contrary to the data provided in the passage. Risk level goes up as credit ratings go down - as is stated in the concluding lines of paragraph 9.
Bank of Baroda shrank its loan book by 1.97% and not less than 1% as stated in option 3.
PNB in last year same quarter grew in its loan book and did not decline as the comparison suggests in option 4.
Option 1 is substantiated by data provided in option 3 & 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Which of the following cannot be concluded from the passage?
- A.
Banks’ loan books have shown a weak rate of growth in the first quarter this year.
- B.
According to Basel III norms total capital adequacy ratio should be 12%.
- C.
SBI received many good fresh proposals in the first quarter this year.
- D.
The shrinking credit is partly caused by economic slowdown.
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
The question stems asks for what 'cannot be concluded'
Option 1 has been stated in the opening lines of paragraph 1- “...in the first quarter, loan demand is not quite robust.”.
Option 2 has been stated verbatim in paragraph 9.
Option 4 has been stated verbatim in the opening lines of paragraph 6.
Option 3 is contradicted by the statement made by SBI chief Mr Bhattacharya “...we actually did not get good fresh proposals in the quarter” in the concluding lines of paragraph 5.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Based on the information given in the passage, which of the following is a likely outcome of lending to highly rated customers?
- A.
Narrowing gap between yields on advances and cost of deposit
- B.
Lower risk for the bank
- C.
Easier meeting of capital adequacy norms
- D.
All of the above
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
All the 3 options have been mentioned verbatim in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 of the passage.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Read the following sets of four sentences and arrange them in the most logical sequence to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.
I. Doubts Linger about Facebook’s ability to be a business. Financial markets had also cratered since the Microsoft deal.
II. Big, as that is, it’s considerably less than the $15 billion valuation that Microsoft and Li Ka-shing accepted in October 2007.
III. Milner’s confidence that Facebook will eventually be profitable at a gigantic scale is what emboldened him to invest initially at a price that valued the company at $10 billion.
IV. But Milner’s enthusiasm is such that not only did he buy stock from Facebook, he will also be spending as much as $300 million more buying stock from employees and outside investors
- A.
I, II, III, IV
- B.
I, IV, II, III
- C.
III, II, I, IV
- D.
III, IV, II, I
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
$10 billion in statement III connects with “Big as that is, it's considerably less than $15 billion...” in statement II.
Statement I connects with cratered business of Microsoft with “But Milner's enthusiasm...” in statement IV.
These links are found only in option 3.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Read the following sets of four sentences and arrange them in the most logical sequence to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.
I. No light, no sound comes in from the world.
II. My violin misses him more than I do. I tune it, and we enter my soundproof cell.
III. Electrons along copper, horsehair across acrylic create my only impressions of sense.
IV. I have not played Schubert for more than a month.
- A.
I, II, III, IV
- B.
II, III, I, IV
- C.
III, I, IV, II
- D.
IV, II, I, III
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
“I have not played Shubert...” in IV connects with “My violin misses him...” in II.
“...we enter my soundproof cell” in II connects with “No light, no sound comes in...” in I.
The paragraph ends with statement III.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Which of the following words is spelled correctly?
- A.
Decrepit
- B.
Descrepit
- C.
Deceript
- D.
Decript
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
“Decrepit” is the correct spelling.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Which of the following options has both words spelled correctly?
- A.
Receive, Deceive
- B.
Perceive, Believe
- C.
Deceive, Percieve
- D.
Receive, Beleive
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
“Perceive”, “Believe” have been spelled correctly.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option that follows:
Mrs. Kapoor hovered around the patient in a display of great _______.
- A.
Solicititude
- B.
Chivalry
- C.
Solicitude
- D.
Chivelry
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
“Chivalry' is formal and courteous behaviour. “Solicitude” is 'having concern or care'. In the given context, solicitude fits better.
The correct spelling is the one given in option 3.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option that follows:
Whenever she asked the doctor how long she had left to live, he would dive off into long-winded explanations about the incertainties inherent in medicines, and eventually tail off as if he had forgotten her original question altogether; it was the worst form of _______ she’d ever come across.
- A.
Prevarication
- B.
Insinuation
- C.
Preambulation
- D.
Abrogation
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
The doctor dodged the patient's question and hence “prevarication” meaning 'avoidance; moving away from the whole truth', fits in the sentence.
“Insinuation” is 'an indirect suggestion or hint'.
“Perambulation” is 'to walk or travel about'.
“Abrogation” is 'to abolish, annul, repeal'.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
For the underlined part of the given sentence, choose the option that is grammatically correct, effective and reduces ambiguity and redundancy.
Many of the workers currently deployed on the assembly line, hope for the exchanging of their routine jobs for new assignments that are interesting.
- A.
for the exchanging of their routine jobs for new assignments that are interesting
- B.
for exchanging routine jobs for new assignments that will interest them
- C.
to exchange their routine jobs for new assignments that will be new and interesting
- D.
to exchange their routine jobs for new and interesting assignments
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
Options 1 and 2 can be eliminated, since they use the preposition “for”. The workers 'hope to exchange...' would be correct construction.
Option 3 is incorrect, because it contains a redundancy: “...new assignments that will be new...”.
Option 4 is correct, since it contains the correct preposition “to” and has no redundancies.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
For the underlined part of the given sentence, choose the option that is grammatically correct, effective and reduces ambiguity and redundancy.
Saundarya’s Skin Nourishing cream sold 5 lakh packs last quarter, 20% more than their Face Wash did and nearly five times as much as their Anti-Ageing cream sales.
- A.
their Face Wash did nearly five times as much as their Anti-Ageing cream sales
- B.
their Face Wash sold nearly five times as much as Anti-Ageing cream sales
- C.
their Face Wash and nearly five times more than their Anti-Ageing cream
- D.
their Face Wash did nearly five times what Anti-Ageing cream sales were
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
Option 1 is incorrect, since it has an error in parallelism: “Face Wash did” ends in a verb while “Anti-Ageing cream sales” ends in a noun.
Option 2 is incorrect, since it has an error in parallelism: “Face Wash sold” ends in a verb while “Anti-Ageing cream sales” ends in a noun. Also, it is missing the possessive pronoun “their” before Anti-Ageing cream sales.
Option 3 is correct, since the two parts of the sentence are parallel (both nouns).
Option 4 is incorrect, since it is missing the possessive pronoun “their” before Anti-Ageing cream sales were.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Select the option which expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the capitalized pair.
MUMBLE : INDISTINCT ::
- A.
Swagger : Timid
- B.
Exacerbate : Cure
- C.
Scribble : Illegible
- D.
Drizzle : Downpour
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
A “mumble” is 'something that is said indistinctly and quietly'. Similarly, a “scribble” is 'something that is written or drawn illegibly'.
None of the other options show the same relationship. All display an antonymous relationship.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Select the option which expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the capitalized pair.
RUFFLE : EQUANIMITY ::
- A.
Bewilderment : Confusion
- B.
Disturb : Balance
- C.
Interest : Astound
- D.
Flounce : Turmoil
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
We can “ruffle” a person's “equanimity”, meaning to 'disorder or disarrange' his 'calmness and composure'. Similarly, we can “disturb” the “balance” of something, meaning to 'interfere' with the 'equilibrium and stability' of something.
The other options do not display the same relationship.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
The first and last parts of the sentence are marked 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence is split into five parts and marked i, ii, iii, iv and v. These five parts are not given in their proper order. From the options given, please choose the most appropriate order to form a coherent, logical and grammatically correct sentence.
1. Having started
i. In less time than it takes
ii. More than half of your capital
iii. With just $5.8 million
iv. You squandered
v. In seed financing
6. To soft boil an egg
- A.
1, iii, iv, ii, v, i, 6
- B.
1, iii, v, iv, i, ii, 6
- C.
1, i, v, iii, iv, ii, 6
- D.
1, iii, v, iv, ii, i, 6
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
We can immediately eliminate option 3, since sentence fragment i cannot logically follow sentence 1.
Option 1 has the thread iv-ii-v which reads as 'you squandered more than half of your capital in seed financing'. This is illogical, because we do not say that a person “squanders” (meaning to waste in a reckless and foolish manner) money in a business. Eliminate this option.
Option 2 does not contain the crucial link of iv-ii: 'you squandered more than half your capital'. Therefore, it can be eliminated.
Option 4 reads as 'Having started with just $5.8 million in seed financing you squandered more than half of your capital in less time than it takes to soft boil an egg'. This is logical.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
The first and last parts of the sentence are marked 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence is split into five parts and marked i, ii, iii, iv and v. These five parts are not given in their proper order. From the options given, please choose the most appropriate order to form a coherent, logical and grammatically correct sentence.
1. You could behave badly, say you were sorry,
i. Who now had both to suffer the crime
ii. In the same position
iii. And the difficulty of forgiving
iv. You would get extra fun and be reinstated
v. As the one who had done nothing
6. With no goodies in addition at all
- A.
1, ii, v, iv, iii, i, 6
- B.
1, i, iii, ii, v, iv, 6
- C.
1, iv, v, ii, i, iii, 6
- D.
1, iv, ii, v, i, iii, 6
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
Three crucial links can be identified: iv-ii which reads as 'you would get extra fun and be reinstated in the same position' (since we say that a person is 'reinstated in a certain position'), ii-v which reads as 'in the same position as the one who had done nothing', and v-i which reads as 'as the one who had done nothing who now had both to suffer the crime'.
The only option containing these three links is option 4. The other options make illogical sentences.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Select the option which is grammatically correct.
- A.
I forgot tat they are coming today.
- B.
I met her more frequently than I meet you.
- C.
This course is challenging and an inspiration.
- D.
She is confident to speak English within six month.
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect because of a tense error. The correct sentence should be 'I forgot that they were coming today.'
Statement B is correct. When the subordinate clause starts with the conjunction “than”, any tense can be used in the subordinate clause- even if the principal clause uses the past tense.
Statement C is incorrect because of an error in parallelism. The adjective “challenging” should be balanced with an adjective 'inspiring' or the noun “inspiration” should be balanced with the noun 'challenge'.
Statement D is incorrect because of a prepositional error. The preposition “to” is erroneously used in this sentence. The correct sentence should be 'She is confident of speaking in English within six months' / 'She is confident of being able to speak in English within six months'.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Select the option which is grammatically correct.
- A.
The convict escaped from prison and is believed to flee the country.
- B.
Did he travel by taxi, train or by plane?
- C.
Visualizing success is not the same as achieving it.
- D.
I would do anything for my friend but not my neighbour.
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
Statement A is incorrect because of tense error. The correct construction should be '...believed to have fled the country.'
Statement B is incorrect due to error in parallelism. All the nouns should be preceded by the preposition 'by'.
Statement D is incorrect because of the missing preposition 'for'. The correct construction should be '...but not for my neighbour.'
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Pick out the odd option.
- A.
Expiate
- B.
Banish
- C.
Expatriate
- D.
Exile
Answer: Option A
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Explanation :
“Expiate” means 'make amends or reparation for (guilt or wrongdoing)'.
“Banish” means 'send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.'
“Exile” means 'expel and bar (someone) from their native country, typically for political or punitive reasons'.
“Expatriate” means 'to send a person abroad or outside their native country'.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
Pick out the odd option.
- A.
Brevity
- B.
Circumlocution
- C.
Conciseness
- D.
Succinctness
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
“Conciseness” means 'expressing or covering much in few words '.
“Succinctness” means 'briefly and clearly expressed’
“Brevity” means 'concise and exact use of words in writing or speech'.
Therefore, all the three words mean 'using few words for expression'.
“Circumlocution” means 'the use of many words where fewer would do '.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that completes the idiom correctly in the given sentences.
The bigger they come, _______ they fall, or so it is said.
- A.
the greater
- B.
the harder
- C.
the more
- D.
the less
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
Using the adverb 'great' to describe a fall would make the sentence illogical. Option 1 can be eliminated on that basis.
An apt adverb to describe a “fall” from among the given options would be option 2 'hard', as it describes the impact of the fall.
Options 3 and 4 can be eliminated on the basis that an adverb/adjective of the comparative degree is required to maintain parallelism in the sentence.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that completes the idiom correctly in the given sentences.
You almost frightened the life _______ me.
- A.
from
- B.
of
- C.
into
- D.
out of
Answer: Option D
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Explanation :
Option 4 “out of” helps in completing the idiom 'to frighten the life out of someone', which means 'to make someone very frightened'.
The rest of the options do not help in completing the idioms and can be eliminated on that basis.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
How many words of four or more letters can be made with the following, with the condition that at least one “E” appears in each word?
E, T, Y, T, E, L, A
- A.
exactly 4
- B.
at least 5
- C.
at most 3
- D.
None of the above
Answer: Option B
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Explanation :
The possible words that can be made taking into consideration the conditions and the letters provided above are :
“Late”
“Tale”
“Teal” which is 'a medium to dark greenish colour'.
“Teat” means 'the milk ducts of a mammal'.
“Teel” which means 'a sesame plant'.
Thus, it can be said that “at least 5” words can be formed.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
How many words of four or more letters can be made with the following, with the condition that “A” appears in each word?
A, H, N, E, T, E, H
- A.
at most 6
- B.
exactly 5
- C.
at least 8
- D.
exactly 7
Answer: Option C
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Explanation :
The possible words that can be made taking into consideration the conditions and the letters provided above are :
“Hate”
“Neat”
“Heat”
“Than”
“Heathen” which means 'an irreligious person'.
“Ethane” is a type of a gas.
“Heath” which means 'an open or uncultivated portion of land'.
“Ante” means 'an amount of money paid in advance'.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
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