English Usage Test 46

Mound, barrow and hillock, all refer to a small mountain or hill. On other hard, valley refers to a stretch of low land lying between two hills, so, it can be termed as odd one of the giving words.

While terms hermit, anchorite and cenobite mean religious person who live alone and apart from society for meditation, recluse refers to a person who shuts himself away from the world and who is not a religious person. Therefore, it can be attributed as an odd word among those given.

Death: legacy, the bridge that can be built between them is that after a person dies his legacy or will is announced. Similarly, in option (2), trial: verdict, trial implies a formal lawsuit in a court and after a trial ends or finishes, the verdict is announced or given. Therefore, these two pair of words are similar. Hence, option (2) is correct answer.

Curse and malediction are both synonymous words. So, a pair of synonyms is required for us to answer this question correctly. This is available only in option (4) with interdict meaning to forbid with authority and prohibition again refers to the word forbid. Therefore, option (4) is correct answer.

Noble is a man belonging to aristocracy or upper class while Plebian is referred to a commoner or people from lower class. So, these two represent a pair of antonyms. In option (1), fixed represents a person firmly placed or established and vagrant is a wanderer who wanders from place to place and lives a wandering life. Therefore, a pair of antonyms as predicted. Therefore, it can be marked as correct answer.

C begins the sequence as it expresses the thought of this para jumble. 'Yet' in D proposes a contrary view to C, hence, we have CD link. 'Such' in A refers to sentence B, as A gives a functional view point to B, therefore, A follows B. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Out of A and C, A begins the sequence as it introduces the subject - ‘normative principles of Hindusim’. 'This latter attribute' in B refers to 'eclecticism or amorphousness' in A, thus, giving AB link. 'This system of logic' in D refers to ‘logical view’ in C, thus, D follows C. Hence, (3) is the answer. 

'And', before the blank implies that the blank would be characterized by a word that indicates similarity to the phrase 'confusion of tradition'. Of all these options, 'caricature' (burlesque, exaggeration) fits our prediction. Hence, (2) is the answer.

While curse, objurgate and censure are all terms used to criticize or condemn someone. Extol is the term used to praise highly. Hence, option (3) is the answer.

C begins the sequence as it introduces the subject - 'Visual Harmony'. Statement A logically follows C as A elaborates C further. As B provides an explanation to A cognitively, thus we have AB link. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Catch - 22 is a paradox in a law, regulation or practice that makes one a victim of its provisions, no matter what one does. Of all the options, 'absurd' in (1) could replace it, hence, it is the answer.

Quandary, dilemma and predicament are synonyms referring to any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives. Thus, these can be grouped together. Subterfuge means deception, any plan or action used to hide one's true objective, hence the answer.

B begins the sequence as it highlights the 'epistemological aspect of music'. 'Within the general category' in C provides reference to statement B, thus, C follows B. 'The issue' in A is a reference to 'one's enjoyment' in C, thus, we have BCA link. D provides an explanation to question in A. Hence, (1) is the answer.

Vivacity is liveliness of spirit, therefore, option (2) best illustrates the meaning, hence, it is the answer.

Unprecedented means that has never happened before. Option (1) fits this prediction, hence, it is the answer.

'Wilderness' is generally an uncultivated, uninhabited region, waste, wild, therefore, a cry in wilderness would be a cry in vain. Hence, option (1) is the answer.

Let's scrutinize each option:
(1)        First paragraph provides the clue for this option. Reading and writing are obsolete (old fashioned) subjects and an American student is not learning this in school, nowadays. Neither the passage mentions that they learn history and geography nowadays. Hence, option (1) is ruled out. 
(2)        Second paragraph provides the clue for this option. A modern American student does not experience this in school. Instead, it is the author's experience, which throws light on past learning system. Hence, (2) is ruled out. 
(3)        First sentence of the second paragraph provides the clue for this option. In the past, nobody was interested in building up self esteem in school, instead the focus used to be on geography, history, maths. This implies that self esteem is a big subject in American classrooms today. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Let's scrutinize each option. 
(1)        Prevarication means deception, dishonesty. Goals cannot only be from our professional lives, we can set them in our personal lives also. Therefore, our not being honest with our personal lives cannot create a hindrance for achieving success in our goals. As this statement does not make any sense, therefore, it can be ruled out.  
(2)        We always get motivation from the divine energy but it does not answer our problem - 'why cannot we accomplish the goals that we have set', cited in the passage. As this does not sum up the theme of the passage, hence, it is ruled out. 
(3)        Goal might be an object or end that one is striving to attain. Setting them too high does not create the hindrance in accomplishing our goals, infact this can serve as an analysis of our capabilities. Hence, this option can also be ruled out.
(4)        The last sentence of the passage gives the clue for the theme of the passage. When we are doing something that we feel is not right, we can feel confused, resentful and unmotivated. But when we work on something that is right for us, it gives us energy and the motivation. Therefore, (4) is the answer. 

Option (2) best represents the meaning of plunge as it means leap, fall. Hence, option (2) is the answer.

'And', after superficial, in last part of the sentence gives clue for the second blank, which implies that the blank must be replaced by a word indicating similarity to superficial. Of all three options, 'pedantic' in (4) fits our prediction as it is an ostentations display of knowledge, or an instance of this. Moreover, 'Vaunted' (to boast, brag) characterizes the first blank, thereby giving a cogent meaning to the sentence. Hence, (4) is the answer. 

'New facts in nature' in last part of the sentence gives a clue for the blank. This implies that some supernatural forces at times with their mysterious acts reveal new facts to us about nature of all the options, 'disclose' in (3) fits our prediction and hence, it is the answer.

The operative word in this sentence is 'and' before the blank which implies that the blank must be replaced by a word that is a synonym of monk. An 'anchoret' is a person who lives alone and apart from society for religious meditation. Therefore, it fits our prediction. 'Jesuits' is a member of the society of Jesus and 'Capuchin' is a member of a branch of the Franciscan order that adheres strictly to the original rule. These options do not characterize the blank as they are off the track, hence ruled out. Therefore, (1) is the answer.

As crayfishes (any of various families of small, usually freshwater decapods somewhat resembling little lobsters) are found in streams, similarly flowers bloom in garden. Hence, option (2) is the answer.

As autumn is a season of fall due to withering (to dry up, as from great heat, shrivel, esp. of plants) of plants, similarly, spring is a season of flowering. Hence, option (3) is the answer.

C begins the sequence as it discusses the subject - 'position of art'. A explains 'physical sciences and humanities' which is in reference to C, thus, we have CA link. 'Yet' in D provides a contrary view to art as reflected in B, hence, D follows B. This sequence is found in (2), hence the answer.