English Usage Test 6

This para jumble argues on India's survival in post industrialized society. D is the direct link after statement 1, which is an explanation to statement 1. A gives direct link to D as it talks of the basic sector i.e. A

'Inflict' as in options (1), (2) and (3) means to cause suffering or unpleasantness. This implies we can 'inflict' something unpleasant on or upon a person as in (1) and (2) but we cannot, correctly, inflict a person with anything as in (3), which makes it incorrect.
'Inflict' in (4) means to impose a burden, especially by forcing your presence on someone.
Hence, (3) is the answer.

'Comprise' as used in (1), (2) and (4) means to consist of or composed of. But 'comprise' in (4) is incorrect as there is a general rule - a whole comprises its parts (not the other way around). The correct sentence would be to replace it with 'constituted'. 'Comprise' in (3) means to be made up of. Hence, (2) is the incorrect usage of comprise and it is the answer.

This para jumble talks on small scale manufacturing units in India, which is clear from statement B and this gives a direct link to statement 1. C elaborates statement B, B à C. Hence, (4) is the correct answer.

This para jumble talks about the opportunities that India has missed to become a healthy nation. D provides the link to stationary statement 1 as it also talks of past, which leaves us with (1) and (2) choices. C is to be followed by B, which throws light on the problem in statement C i.e. C à B. Hence, (1) is the correct answer.

'Range' as used in (1) is correct as it means to wander or rave, which gives cogent meaning to the sentence.
Option (2) highlights incorrect usage of 'ranging' as it makes no sense. Instead, it should be - The teacher was impressed by the range of the boy's interacts. ('Range' here means an extent or scope).
In (3), 'range' depicts an area for target shooting and in (4), it means the area or region in which a plant or animal species is found. Hence, (2) is the answer.

(3) is most meaningful as it points out that given the 'cheerfulness' of conventional accounts of their religion, the philosophers 'hatred' is what is surprising. Hence, (3) is the answer.

The clause following 'Jesuits' is in contrast to what precedes it. It forms a cause-effect relationship and the effect is negative as we can make out from the latter part of the sentence. All the options for the first blank fit our prediction. Now, let's try for the second blank. 'Embroiled' and 'entangled', both mean involved, which leaves us with these 2 options (1) and (3). 'Foursquare' means frank, honest, forthright whereas 'skullduggery' means dishonesty, which is cogent with political in the sentence. Hence, (3) is the answer.

'Unpretentious' means simple, prosaic, therefore, it replaces the 1st blank. Hence, (4) is the answer. 

'Freemason' is a member of an international freethinking male society having as the principles brotherliness, charity and mutual aid. As 'speculative' and 'inquisitive' both fit our prediction for first blank, thus, we are left with 2 options - (2) and (3). The operative word for second blank is 'rise'. As 'veteran' means experienced, practiced, thus 'apprentices' (any learner or beginner) replaces the second blank. Hence, (2) is the answer.

“Essential' contrasts with 'accidental' as a type of property (a 'deliberate' property is absurd). Hence, (4) is the answer.

The first part of the sentence implies that the impact of the publication of the essays about the presidential campaigns is less than what it might have been, had it been published either earlier or much later than at present. If it had been published earlier, it would had the merit of topicality. If it had been published much later, it would have had historical value. The pair of words which gives this meaningful sense to the sentence is in (4), which is the answer.
(you could also have approached the question with the argument that the phrases 'historical anxiety', 'historical consistency', 'historical skepticism' and 'historical respect' do not make sense and that 'historical curiosity' is the only possible choice for the second missing word).

The absolute qualities in art cannot frighten us or confuse us but can only edify (meaing instruct; educate) or elude (meaning evade; escape) us. So, (2) and (3) can be ruled out from the point of view of the suitability of the first missing word alone, leaving only (1) and (4) for examination. The phrase 'in an exemplar of time and circumstance' does not make the same eminent sense as 'in a context of time and circumstance'. So, (4) is a much better choice than (1), hence the answer.

Looking at the para jumbles carefully, we come to know that it is about fly ash project. As statement A clearly shows the link, we are left with B or D. Statement D connects to statement 1 as TIFAC undertook the project. D is to be followed by B as it gives an e.g.  Statement C shows the results, it follows A. The only choice that answers this is (2).

Option (2) is not correct, as the trend has been described in a way that it seems easily evident on the account of occurrence of the word ‘Naturally’. The information in option (3) is too extreme to be considered correct, as it needs an explicit support in the passage, which we can’t find. The scheme given in option (4) VABAL has not been referred to in the passage anywhere, so this option is also not appropriate. Only option (1) is valid as evident from second line of passage. Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Option (3) is correct.

We can reject option (2) on account of sentence ‘it shows signs of slowing down now’. Options (1) and (3) are assertions on results of economic policies being followed but this subject hasn’t been discussed in the passage. Again on account of last line, option (4) ‘economic drive, both on the farm and in the cities, would soon falter’, matches the passage in conclusion. This marks option (4) as correct answer.

Option (4) 'actions' is correct partially because what we need here is a specific term which can denote the affected or artificial manner of person. Option (1) is incorrect because though it is used to refer, behaving in dramatic manner but it is used in context of actors and plays. Option (2) 'Dramatics' is term commonly used to refer plays performed and produced by amateurs and also for dramatic effect. It can thereby be kept on hold. Option (3), histrionics, is specifically used to refer artificial or affected manner, and is most suited as answer in the present case, this marks it as correct answer.

Deviate is to turn aside to only a slight degree, Ramble is to talk aimlessly without connection of ideas, Swerve is to turn aside sharply or suddenly and equivocate is to mislead. It is clear from sentence that speaker was talking off subject and boring out his audience, so, best suited term from those given above is rambled as the speaker is just speaking aimlessly without connecting to his subject only to prolong his speech.  

Endemic is used to term a disease under control, while this sentence is talking about an epidemic out of control of authorities. Epidemic is a noun and can be used to replace cholera and not the given expression of sentence. Spreading fits the sentence correctly, so keep it for final consideration. Word rampant means spreading, unchecked and widespread, you can see clearly that it perfectly replace the given expression. Therefore, option (4) is correct answer.

The meaning of expression 'unbearably conceited' is an attitude having exaggerated opinion of oneself, which cannot be tolerated. So this expression has to be replaced by terms given. Lets analyze various options: (1) indecent, is incorrect because it means something morally offensive, this is not something conceited. (2), impatient is lack of patience but this can't be termed as something conceited. Some reasoning applies to option (4). Only option (3) insufferable seems a valid answer here because it means not sufferable or intolerable which can easily fit in the sentence giving same meaning as before substitution.

One can easily see that word ‘fixed’ as given by option (1) validly fits in all the given sentences, therefore, option (1) is correct answer.

In all the given blanks, the word that validly fits in each of the question is option (2) that is flashed. Therefore, correct answer for this question is option (2).

Term 'autobiography' cannot be used in conjunction with word flood because it is singular. Similar reasoning applies to memories. In sentence, the flood of something has been described as best seller, therefore, it is in form of a book and thereby cannot be term as reports. 'Reminiscences' denotes first hand account, an account of remembered experiences. Therefore, (2) 'reminiscences' best fits the alternative for given sentence.

The only word which fits in all the given sentences is ‘glance’, which marks option (4) as the correct answer.