English Vocabulary and Word Usage

The meaning of the word redundant as given in question is superfluous meaning in excess and unnecessary. Sentence (2) conveys a positive meaning and nothing is redundant in the situation. Therefore, option (2) does not fit the definition. Rest of the options potray irrelevant situations. Answering sixth question when only five need to be answered..... wasted effort. Retaining old computers when new ones are installed..... wasteful activity. Arguments that are questionable is waste of energy and effort. Arguing after being defeated is also wasted effort.

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="">Option (3): This option reflects incorrect usage of the word. Correct usage: “have a precipitous slope”.

‘Reverberate’ as used in options (1) and (2) is correct meaning to echo or sound again and again. In options (3) and (4) is also correct meaning repercussions. There is no such meaning of ‘reverberation’ as in option (5), therefore marking it incorrect as the answer. Instead the sentence should read: ‘Sound of the booming guns reverberated through the precincts’.

“Inflict” as in options (1), (2), (3) and (5) 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.

In the second sentence 'Order' means a group of people upon whom a government or sovereign has formally conferred honor for unusual service or merit. Therefore, the verb should be awarded. Crowned means enthrone. Hence, (2) is the answer.

The word used in option (2) is not correct. Instead the word should be ‘articulation’, meaning ‘to pronounce words distinctly’. Therefore, option (2) is the answer.

Option (1) depicts the incorrect usage of ‘deliver’. Income tax is not delivered but is filed or registered. ‘Delivered’ in (2) means to distribute; in option (3) it means to strike(a blow); and in option (4), it means to give forth, or express in words; make. In option (5) it means to set free or liberate.

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="">Option (1): The word in (1) should be 'rift', not 'drift'. Hence (1) is answer. 

The usage of word 'amalgamate' in option (2) is incorrect. Meaning of the word 'amalgam' is soft mixture or combination to fill in cavities. So option (2) is the required answer choice.

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="">Option (2): From this option it can be inferred that the act caused a violent agitation. Although flurry also implies a kind of agitation, this kind of violent agitation is termed as 'a flare up'. The correct expression is 'lead to a flare up'. Hence, (2) is answer. 

For option (1) the expression implies to give money, especially generously. For option (3), the expression used is 'to conceal or hold back the feeling'. For option (4), the expression implied is 'to be too dependent on each other'. For option (2) 'pocket all the lines given to you' is grammatically correct, but we pocket physical things like cash, money, etc. and not abstract quantities. Thus option (2) is incorrect usage of the term pocket.

Mendacity, perjury, prevarication and fabrication are all synonymous terms used for referring to lies, false statements or untruths. On other hand, 'veracity' refers to truthfulness of a statement. So, this one does not belong to the group.

In option (1), the term 'paper' has been used as slang to denote people who come to watch theatre on free tickets or without paying, so the given usage is correct. In option (2) the meaning implied is 'thin or flimsy like paper', but instead of the noun paper the term required was the adjective 'papery'. 'Paper profit' as implied by sentence (3) refers to expression 'in theory rather than in practice'. In option (4), 'paper over the cracks' implies to attempt to hide disagreement or friction. In option (5), paper means a wrapper. Thus incorrect usage as can be inferred from the above explanation is option (2).

'Species' is one particular group of organisms whose population is referred to in totality like human being, elephants, tigers, etc. Race, community, fraternity and society refer to groups of individuals belonging to a certain species but they all are sub categories which can be classified under the main category 'species'. Therefore 'species is odd one out.

'Slimy' means disgusting, repulsive; 'time-worn' is outdated, old-fashioned (same as archaic and passé). 'Crumbling' is aging, decaying. This marks option (1) as correct answer because others can be related by time frame.

The usage as implied in option (1) refers to a structure in which a bird lays its eggs and rears its chicks. In option (2) the term ‘nest egg’ is used to refer to money saved for future use. In option (3) ‘nest’ denotes group of objects, which are designed in such a way to fit in each other. In option (5) nest means a dwelling. In option (4) either the expression should have been ‘nesting ground for the thieves’ or ‘nest of thieves’, which implies a secret, protected place, especially one used by criminals.

'Lassitude' is state or feeling of being tired. Languor' is a lack of vitality and weakness as is enervation. 'Fatigue' is also physical and mental exhaustion. “Inertia' represents tendency to remain in a fixed condition without change. Thus it can be easily seen that 'Inertia' is quite different than other three terms, hence option (4) is correct answer.

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times" new="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa="">Option (2): In option (2), 'fistful of money' should replace 'fist of money'. Thus (2) is the incorrect usage of the term fist. 

Drab, humdrum, discursive and prosaic all refer to commonplace, dull or unfocussed items. But skittish means lively or playful in a frivolous manner. This marks option (4) as correct.

(5) 'Coarse' is rough; 'course' is path. 'Contemptible' is condemnable; 'contemptuous is arrogant. 'Disk' is something plate-like' 'disc' is specifically a phonograph. 'Discreet' is prudent'; 'discrete' is separated.

 Somebody is 'awarded' an honour, or 'rewarded with' something. The usage here is awarded. 'Bated breath' is an idiomatic usage, meaning waiting for something anxiously as if by holding breath. 'Libertine' is a perverse, particularly sexually unrestrained person. 

(4) ‘Cession’ is giving up; ‘session’ is a sitting. ‘Chafe’ is to wear off; ‘chaff’ is husk or banter. ‘Cord’ is rope; ‘chord’ is vocal tone or string of a musical instrument. ‘Cite’ is to refer; ‘site’ is to place.

A crow is a scavenger. Error: redundancy in the expression ‘scavenger bird’

Option (1) doesn’t seem to make sense, and the student shall be prompted to mark it as an incorrect usage of the term 'ash'. But, the word ‘ash’ here refers to a tree of genus fraxinus. So, it is perfectly correct. Option (5) is marked incorrect because of the word ‘cinder’, which means wood or coal ash.

The term ‘eligible’ normally denotes persons. All the statements, except (1), refer to persons. Moreover, a large ripe mango among unripe mangoes does not make it the chosen one; it may be the one that is not required/not eligible.