Direction: The following question carries a statement with two blanks. From the given options, choose the word that would fit in both the blanks to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
1. The _________________ landscape was _________________, making every tourist stop to capture its beauty.
(a) picturesque, captivating
(b) blaring, loud
(c) fleeting, permanent
(d) sparse, crowded
(e) tepid, scalding
1. Solution: The correct pair is (a) picturesque, captivating.
– picturesque describes a scene that’s visually charming or quaint, like a scene that belongs in a picture.
– captivating means to attract and hold the interest and attention of, which fits the context of tourists stopping to admire.
– blaring typically describes a loud and harsh sound, and loud means having a high volume. While both describe sound, neither fits the context of a landscape.
– fleeting means lasting for a very short time, while permanent means lasting forever. These are contradictory terms and don’t describe a landscape in the given context.
– sparse means thinly dispersed or scanty, and crowded implies a place is full of people or things. These terms also contradict each other.
– tepid refers to something slightly warm, and scalding refers to something very hot. Both are terms that describe temperature and don’t fit the context of a landscape’s visual beauty.
2. The old house, though _________________, had a certain _________________ that attracted potential buyers.
(a) dilapidated, charm
(b) modern, antiquity
(c) bright, darkness
(d) vast, limitation
(e) full, emptiness
2. Solution: The correct pair is (a) dilapidated, charm.
– dilapidated describes something in a state of decay or disrepair due to age or neglect.
– charm means a pleasing quality or attraction, which makes sense in the context of attracting potential buyers.
– modern means relating to the present or recent times, and antiquity refers to ancient times. These terms contradict the context, which describes an old house.
– bright means giving out or reflecting a lot of light, and darkness is the absence of light. These are contradictory terms and don’t describe the characteristics of a house that would attract buyers.
– vast refers to a very great extent or quantity, and limitation is a restriction or constraint. These terms don’t fit the context of the house’s age or appeal.
– full implies being filled to capacity, and emptiness is the state of containing nothing. Both terms don’t describe the house’s condition or its attractive quality.
3. The novel was both _________________ in its narrative and _________________ in its character development.
(a) compelling, nuanced
(b) trivial, exaggerated
(c) dry, moist
(d) cursory, extensive
(e) fleeting, stagnant
3.Solution: The correct pair is (a) compelling, nuanced.
– compelling means evoking interest or attention in a powerful way. It describes a narrative that draws the reader in.
– nuanced suggests subtlety or a range of differences in meaning, tone, or feeling, apt for complex character development.
Other options:
– trivial means of little importance or value, and exaggerated suggests something made to seem larger or more important, not fitting the context.
– dry and moist are contrasting terms related to wetness, not narrative quality.
– cursory means hasty and not detailed, and extensive implies large in amount or scale, an unlikely pair for the context.
– fleeting means lasting for a short time, and stagnant means not developing or progressing, again not fitting the context of the novel’s qualities.
4. The _________________ decor of the room was offset by the _________________ art on the walls.
(a) austere, vibrant
(b) loud, muted
(c) open, closed
(d) dim, bright
(e) heavy, lightweight
4.Solution: The correct pair is (a) austere, vibrant.
– austere refers to something stern or strict in manner or appearance, or having no comforts or luxuries. It fits a room that is plain or unadorned.
– vibrant describes something full of energy or enthusiasm, fitting for lively, bright art.
Other options:
– loud and muted are contrasting terms referring to volume or intensity, not directly relevant to decor and art in the given context.
– open and closed relate to spaces and accessibility rather than decor style.
– dim and bright relate to lighting, not necessarily to decor and art style.
– heavy and lightweight describe physical weight, which doesn’t fit the context.
5. The documentary was _________________ in presenting facts, yet _________________ in conveying the emotional side of the story.
(a) rigorous, poignant
(b) lax, indifferent
(c) fast, slow
(d) high, low
(e) long, short
5.Solution: The correct pair is (a) rigorous, poignant.
– rigorous means thorough and accurate, fitting for a documentary that meticulously presents facts.
– poignant refers to something that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret, matching the emotional aspect of the story.
Other options:
– lax means not strict or diligent, and indifferent means showing no interest or sympathy. This pair implies a lack of effort or care in the documentary, which contrasts with the given context.
– fast and slow pertain to speed, not the qualities of a documentary’s presentation.
– high and low are vague in this context and don’t directly relate to the qualities of presenting facts or emotions.
– long and short refer to length or duration, not the depth or style of presentation.
6. Given this history, it is surprising that schoolgirls are being , something which did not happen even at the peak of the .
A.projected,innovation
B.intended,circulation
C.targeted,revolution
D.pestered,submission
E.taunted,stagnation
6.Ans: option C, targeted- select as an object of attention or attack;Revolution-a sudden,complete or marked change in something.
Other word meanings:
Pestered-to behave in an annoying manner towards someone by doing or asking for something repeatedly
Taunted-to reproach or challenge in a mocking manner
Stagnation-a situation in which something stays the same and does not grow and develop.
Intended-expected to be such in the future
7. The reports have created panic, protests in many parts of the country, probably the Supreme Leader to make the statement.
A.provocative,reminding
B.triggering,prompting
C.explosive,bidding
D.charged,forcing
E.subduing,swaying
7.Ans: option B, triggering-to make something happen suddenly; prompting-encouragement or urging
Other word meanings:
Provocative-intended to make somebody angry
Explosive-causing strong feelings or having dangerous effects
Subduing-to defeat somebody
Swaying-move or cause to move slowly
8. The remark by Iran’s Supreme Leader that poisoning schoolgirls is an unforgivable crime is a confirmation of reports that thousands of girls across the Islamic Republic have been to poison attacks over the last few months.
A. tangible,idea
B.effective,excursion
C.existing,theme
D.de facto,subject
E.theoretical,matter
8.Ans: option D, de facto-in fact,whether by right or not ; subject-a person or thing that is being discussed,described or dealt with.
Other word meanings:
Tangible-that can be clearly seen to exist
Excursion-a deviation from a regular activity or course
Theoretical-concerned with or involving the theory of a subject