General English (Railway Apprentice Exam)

 Here, short is the correct synonym as it implies explanation which should take a small amount of time. Verbose is using or expressed in more words than are needed, candid implies truthful and straightforward and honest implies sincere and free from deceit.

 Here, inactive is the correct option as it implies not engaging in any activity. Drowsy implies sleepy and lethargic, dull implies lacking brightness, vividness or sheen and paralysed implies becoming partly or wholly incapable of movement.

 Here, countless is the correct option as it implies something that something that is too much in number. Indefinite is something that is lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time, vague refers to uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning and frequent refers to something that is occurring or done many times at short intervals.

 Here, enthusiasm is the correct option as it implies intense and eager enjoyment and interest. Love implies a strong feeling of affection, piousness implies having or exhibiting religious reverence and devotion implies prayers or religious observances.

 Here, feeble is the correct synonym of effete as it implies someone lacking physical strength. Corrupt is someone having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain, decayed is falling into disrepair and arid is someone lacking interest or excitement in something.

 Here, bold is the correct synonym of brazen as it implies an action which is courageous and risky. Unashamed implies an action done openly and without any guilt or embarrassment, humble is showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance and loud, as an adverb implies doing something with a great deal of volume.

 Here, conceal is the correct antonym of evince as conceal implies to prevent something from being known; something that is kept a secret and evince implies to show or express something clearly. Withhold is to suppress or hold back an emotion or reaction, to cover is to put something on top of or in front of something in order to protect or conceal it and to disclose is to allow something hidden to be seen.

 Here, tidy is the correct antonym of unkempt as tidy implies something that is neat and well put together, whereas unkempt refers to something not clean. Grubby implies something that is covered with dirt, smooth implies having an even and regular surface and crude refers to being in an unrefined or natural state.

 Here, delicious is the correct antonym of acrid as delicious implies very tasty and acrid implies something that is sour to taste. Heavenly implies something belonging to or coming out of heaven, pungent implies something having a sharply strong taste or smell and irritating implies something that causes annoyance or mild anger.

 Here, unity is the correct option as it implies the state or quality of being one. Teamwork implies the combined action of a group, agreement refers to the harmony or accordance in opinion or feelings and uniformity refers to the quality or state of being uniform.

 Here, significant is the correct antonym of nominal as here it implies a fine sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention. Modest refers to the quality of not being too proud or confident about self, real refers to something having verifiable existence and competitive refers to as good as or better than others of a comparable nature.

 Here, liability is the correct option as it refers to something that holds one back. Resource is a source of support or the available means, boon is a thing that is helpful and beneficial and compulsion is the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something.

Here, (a) is incorrect. It has a missing article ‘the’.

 Here, (b) is incorrect. Here, the plural form of the verb ‘are’ is used. The sentence tells us that Riya is not going and Aneesh is not going either. Since neither one of the two is going, we must use a singular verb, and not a plural form of verb. Thus, ‘is’ should have been used, which is a singular form of a verb.

Here, (d) is the correct option as the sentence has no error. 

Here, (b) is incorrect. The names Ram, Shyam, I are separated by the word “and”, but a singular form of verb ‘was’ is used, which is incorrect. 

Here, (a) is incorrect as ‘an’ is used as a form of the indefinite article that is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. 

 Here, (c) is incorrect as there is no subject – verb agreement between the subject – the young boy and the verb – are going to play cricket. There should be subject-verb agreement, even if the sandwiched phrase contains other nouns. Thus, the correct option would be ‘is going to play cricket’.

 Here, (c) is incorrect as there is no subject- verb agreement in the subject – the man and the verb – were going. There should be subject-verb agreement, even if the sandwiched phrase contains other nouns. Thus, the correct option would be ‘was going to the park’.

Here, (b) is incorrect as an incorrect preposition ‘at’ is used before the name of a country.

Here, (b) is incorrect as it has a missing article ‘an’ in front of apple, which is a noun.

Here, (c) is incorrect as an incorrect preposition ‘around’ has been used. The correct preposition here is ‘above’, which should be used to indicate a subject higher than his grade level.

 Here, execute is the correct synonym of implement as it implies carrying out a task. Assign implies to allocate a job or a duty, employ means to give work to someone and pay them for it and exploit means to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource.

 Here, revert is the correct synonym as it implies returning to the previous state. Deteriorate implies becoming progressively worse, recede implies move back or further away from a previous position and retreat is an act of moving back or withdrawing.

 Here, open-minded is the correct option as it implies someone willing to consider new ideas. Sympathetic implies feeling or showing sympathy, accessible implies a person of authority who is easy and friendly to talk to and observant is a person who is quick to notice and perceive things.

 Here, skilled is the correct antonym of menial as skilled means having or showing the knowledge, ability or training to perform a certain activity or task well and menial means some work that does not require much skill or training. Elevated is something of a high intellectual or moral level, exciting is something that causes great enthusiasm and eagerness, and degrading is something that causes a loss of self-respect.

 Here, reckless is the correct antonym of judicious as reckless implies doing something rash or impetuous, whereas judicious implies doing something wisely and carefully. Unrealistic implies someone who is inappropriate to reality, idiotic is being very stupid and prudent is acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

Here, humble is the correct antonym of haughty as humble is having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance. Assertive is having or showing a confident and forceful personality, timid implies showing a lack of courage or confidence and shy is feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people.

Here, confused is the correct antonym of poised as confused means unable to think clearly, whereas poised refers to being sure of self. Distrustful refers to feeling or showing distrust of someone or something, confident refers to a person who is sure of his own abilities and assertive is someone having or showing a confident and forceful personality.

 Here, could is the correct option as it is used for expressing possibility. Can is used as a simple present participle, should is used for ought to, or must and shall as a modal verb is used for offering help or giving advice etc.

 Here, shall is the correct option as it is used for offering help or giving suggestions. Will is used to indicate future time, polite questions or requests etc. Could is used to express possibility and must is a modal verb indicating that somebody is compelled to do something because of a rule or law, or that is necessary or advisable to do something.

 Here, might is the correct option as it is used to indicate the possibility that something is true or will happen in the future. Shall is used for offering help or giving suggestions, will is used to indicate future time, polite questions or requests etc. May is used to indicate that something could be true or could have happened or will possibly happen.

Here, incapable is the correct antonym of adept as incapable is someone who is unable to behave rationally or manage one’s affairs, whereas adept is someone who is very skilled or proficient at something. Ignorant is someone lacking knowledge or awareness. In general, expert is a person who is very knowledgeable about or skillful in a particular area and stupid is lacking intelligence or common sense.

 Here, should is the correct option as it is used in expressing desirability. May is used to indicate that something could be true or could have happened or will possibly happen, would is used to express the sense of will in reported speech or when referring to an event that has not happened yet. Might is used to indicate the possibility that something is true or will happen in the future.

 Here, ‘a’ is the correct option as it implies a situation in which someone acts decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem. ‘Took the bloom off’ refers to spoiling or making an incident less enjoyable. ‘Took a back seat’ refers to someone choosing to become less involved in something. ‘Took it on the chin’ refers to accepting adversity, criticism or defeat without complaining.

 Here, ‘b’ is the correct option as it refers to having someone completely under control or influence. ‘Under the knife’ refers to having a surgery, ‘under the weather’ refers to not feeling very well and ‘under close scrutiny’ refers to watching or examining someone or something carefully.

 Here, might is the correct option as it is used to indicate the possibility that something is true or will happen in the future. Would is used to express the sense of will in reported speech or when referring to an event that has not happened yet. Must is a modal verb indicating that somebody is compelled to do something because of a rule or law, or that is necessary or advisable to do something. Will is used to indicate future time, polite questions or requests etc.

 Here, ‘d’ is the correct option as it refers to meeting the required standards. ‘Up in arms’ refers to being very angry. ‘Up in the air’ refers to something not yet been decided or settled yet and ‘up and running’ refers to something (as a business) starting and fully operational.

 Here, ‘b’ is the correct option as it refers to be left in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
‘In mint condition’ refers to something that looks new or is in a perfect condition. ‘In the long run’ refers to something having an effect after a long time and ‘in leaps and bounds’ refers to making rapid or spectacular progress or growth.

 Here, ‘by’ is the correct option as it is used to indicate the means of achieving something. ‘In’ is used for expressing a period of time during which an event happens or a situation remains the case. ‘At’ is used for expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position and with is used to imply having or possessing something.

 Here,‘d’ is the correct option as it implies taking cover from danger. ‘Take it easy’ refers to doing things at a comfortable pace, ‘take the floor’ refers to rising to make a speech or presentation. ‘Take a fancy’ refers to developing a fondness for something.

  Here, into is the correct option as into is used to imply the movement towards or inside something. Between is used to imply at, into or across the space separating the two objects, region or points in time. For is used as a function word to indicate purpose, intended goal etc. Against is used to imply in opposition to or in anticipation of and preparation for a problem or difficulty.

 Here, until is the correct option as it is used to do something before a certain time or up to that time. Upto is used to indicate extension as far as a specified place or to indicate a limit or boundary. ‘By’ is used to indicate the means of achieving something and between is used to imply at, into or across the space separating the two objects, region or points in time.

 Here, during is the correct option as it is used to imply the course or duration of a period of time. Between is used to imply at, into or across the space separating the two objects, region or points in time. Until is used to imply something before a certain time and into is used to imply the movement towards or inside something.

 Here, off is the correct option as it is used to indicate moving away and often down from. ‘Of’ is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole. ‘By’ is used in identifying the agent performing an action and at is used for expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position.

 Here, against is the correct option as it is used to imply in opposition to or in anticipation of and preparation for a problem or difficulty. For is used as a function word to indicate purpose, intended goal etc. Into is used to imply the movement towards or inside something. At is used in expressing location or arrival in a particular place, position or expressing the time when an event takes place.

 Here, ‘of’ is the correct option as it is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole. Off is used to indicate moving away and often down from. ‘At’ is used for expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position and ‘by’ is used in identifying the agent performing an action.

 Here, at is the correct option as it is used in expressing location or arrival in a particular place, position or expressing the time when an event takes place. ‘On’ as a preposition of time is used for days and dates. ‘In’ as a preposition of time is used for months, years, centuries and long periods. During is used to imply the course or duration of a period of time.

 Here, above is the correct option as it is used to refer in or a higher place. About is used in identifying the agent performing an action. ‘To’ is used to express motion in the direction of a particular location and ‘off’ is used to indicate moving away and often down from.

 Here, since is the correct option as it is used in the period after a or from a specified time in the past. From is used to indicate the point in time at which a particular process, event, or activity starts. For is used as a function word to indicate purpose, intended goal etc and by is used to indicate the means of achieving something.

 Here, indelible is the correct option. Illegible is something that is not clear enough to be read, incorrigible is something that is incapable of being corrected or amended and irrevocable is something that is not possible to be revoked.

 Here, ethnology is the correct option. Archaeology is the study of ancient societies, history is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs and anthropology is the science of human zoology, evolution, and ecology.

 Here, epilogue is the correct option. Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film. Epitome is a summary of a written work and obituary is a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically introducing a biography of the deceased person.

 Here, necrophobia is the correct option. Lygophobia is the fear of darkness, dentophobia is the fear of dentist and zeusophobia is the fear of God.

 Here, megalomania is the correct option. Dromomania is the mania for travel, kleptomania is the mania for stealing things and logomania is the mania for talking.

 Here, autocracy is the correct option. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Monarchy is a form of government with a monarch at the head and plutocracy is the government by the wealthy.

 The second sentence of the third paragraph mentions the answer at its end. ‘With a major trading market in Damascus.’

 The last sentence of the passage answers this question. ‘Few people traveled the entire route; goods were handled mostly by a series of middlemen.’

 The second sentence of the second paragraph gives this answer. ‘It was named the Silk Road after its most valuable commodity – silk was considered even more precious than gold!’

 The correct answer is given in the third sentence of the first paragraph of the passage. ‘Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants, because of its texture and luster.’