Free English Usage - 03 Practice Test - CAT 

Question 1

In each of the questions below, there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most concise and clear. Choose option (e) if none of the 4 statements are correct 
A. I request you to kindly deliver to me a tin of milk powder.
B. Could you please send me a tin of milk powder?
C. May I request you to please send me a tin of milk powder?
D. Can I have milk powder sent to me please?E. None of these 

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option B is concise, polite, and clear in communication.

Question 2

In each of the questions below, there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most concise and clear. Choose option (e) if none of the 4 statements are correct
A. There is no question of it not being possible to freeze you to death and wake you up as and when you want.
B. There is no question of it not being possible to freeze you to death and wake you up whenever you want.
C. Undoubtedly, it should be possible to freeze you to death and wake you up whenever you want.
D. Undoubtedly, it should be possible to freeze you to death and wake you up when you want.
E. None of these

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Between C and D ‘Whenever’ communicates the freedom to wake up in a better way.

option (C)

Question 3

In each of the questions below, there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most concise and clear. Choose option (e) if none of the 4 statements are correct
A. Finally there will be unexpected, unanticipated implicational consequences of this development concerning human life.
B. This development concerning human life will finally have unanticipated consequences.
C. This development concerning human life will finally have unexpected and unanticipated implications.
D. This development concerning human life will finally have unexpected implications.
E. None of these

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

‘Unexpected’ and ‘unanticipated’ are synonyms, so using both in a sentence is redundant. ‘consequence’ is a better word to suggest the effect of something on something else,

option (B)

Question 4

In each of the questions below, there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most concise and clear. Choose option (e) if none of the 4 statements are correct
A. His definition of reality has first to be made coincident with the point of view adopted by the author whom he is discussing.
B. His definition of reality has first to be made coincident with the point of view adopted by the author who he is discussing.
C. His definition has to first agree with the point of view adopted by the author he is discussing.
D. His definition of reality has first to coincide with the point of view adopted by the author he is discussing.
E. None of these.

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : C

The appropriate idiomatic use is ‘definition should agree with’.

option (C)

Question 5

In each of the questions below, there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most concise and clear. Choose option (e) if none of the 4 statements are correct
A. I should be very much obliged if you could be kind enough to send me the required material.
B. I should be much obliged if you could send me the required material.
C. I should be very much obliged if you could kindly send me the required material.
D. I should be grateful and very much obliged if you could kindly send me the required material.
E. None of these

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option B is sufficiently polite, clear and concise. ‘very’ is redundant in all the other options.

option (B)

Question 6

In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, labeled A to E. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

ACCOUNT

A. The infiltration problem is not solved yet, but on that account other bilateral issues should not be kept pending
B. Ganguly and his fellow mates gave a good account of themselves during the Australian tour.
C. The father gave his son pocket money on his own account.
D. A business organization is bound to lose accounts, if the customer relations are ignored.
E. No error

SOLUTION

Solution : C

The father gave pocket money on his own accord not account.

option C

Question 7

In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, labeled A to E. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

COST

A. As far as my cost is concerned, I will have to treat this situation as ‘do or die’.
B. A failure in an examination may cost a student a valuable year.
C. He is a very fastidious principal, as I have known to my cost.
D. A wrong decision of an umpire may cost either team dearly.
E. Selling price minus Cost Price determines Profit

SOLUTION

Solution : A

As far as my case is concerned - - - - not cost is concerned.

option A

Question 8

In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, labeled A to E. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

COUGH

A. To get admission to a reputed institution is one facet, to cough up the fee is another.
B. The guard whistled and the engine was about to cough, when we boarded the train.
C. The candidate gave a little cough to attract the manager’s attention.
D. In this video for "Cough Up the Bucks," Neil Young wonders about how the economy could have tanked so hard from the back of a limo.
E. When the patient was about to cough on to the bed, the nurse brought a pan.

SOLUTION

Solution : E

Cough, in relation to an engine, is to make a sudden harsh sound. There is no expression as ‘cough on to’. When you ‘cough up’ or ‘cough something up’ you are forced to give something,especially money, unwillingly.

option E

Question 9

In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, labeled A to E. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

COVER

A. The stage artist’s smile is a cover for her nervousness.
B. His position in the embassy was cover for his activities as a spy.
C. During the war of 1965, Indian, army sought air cover to intensify the attack on the enemy.
D. His presentation covered a lot of new ground.
E. No error

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The phrase ‘a cover for something’ is used (usually in singular) for activities or behavior that seem honest but hide something illegal. Hence it should be ‘a cover’.

option B

Question 10

In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, labeled A to E. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate. 

CREDIT

A. How can I credit for the team’s performance?
B. After several years, we defeated Australians, in their country, can you credit it?
C. It is your sheer tenacity that ultimately does you credit.
D. Credit Card defaulting is almost a trend now
E. While issuing any loan to this man, be careful; his credit is not good anywhere.

SOLUTION

Solution : A

When ‘you take credit for something’ you accept the praise. So the sentence should read ‘How can I take credit - - - -‘.

option A

Question 11

In the following, there are sentences or parts of sentences labeled A, B, C, D etc. . . Choose for your answer the fragment that carries an error. Ignore punctuation errors if any.
A. In a sense we are being pushed back
B. to a 1984-like scenario
C. when scare-mongering
D. became the base for vote-gathering.
E. No error

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : D

D carries the incorrect idiom ‘base for vote-gathering’. It should be corrected to basis for vote-gathering’.

option D

Question 12

In the following, there are sentences or parts of sentences labeled A, B, C, D etc. . . Choose for your answer the fragment that carries an error. Ignore punctuation errors if any.
A. Sachin is the one who has the maximum number of runs
B. in ODI and also in Test cricket
C. and he has scored the highest
D. numbers of centuries in both
E. types of the game.

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : D

‘numbers of centuries’ is incorrect. Though the writer is referring to both types of the game, Sachin in both has the highest number and not the highest numbers.

option D

Question 13

In the following, there are sentences or parts of sentences labeled A, B, C, D etc. . . Choose for your answer the fragment that carries an error. Ignore punctuation errors if any.
A. Sixty years is too small a period to acquire new civilisational traits
B. and to mould our DNA. When that happens, we will automatically
C. realise the importance of the rule of law, the true meaning of freedom and democracy
D. and then we will behave like citizens who will not allow anyone
E. to sell their votes, and MPs will not be on sold.

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : E

We will not allow anyone to sell their votes has a problem in pronoun agreement, anyone is singular hence he or she should be used rather than the plural their. Sixty years as period is singular, hence the singular verb is correct. There is no error of parallelism. There is no shift in tense.

option E

Question 14

In the following, there are sentences or parts of sentences labeled A, B, C, D etc. . . Choose for your answer the fragment that carries an error. Ignore punctuation errors if any.
A. The problem with the mainstream Indian Left
B. is that though they are honest and committed bunch of politicians but are
C. unwilling to look inward, to find out what is wrong
D. with Marxism in theory and in practice.
E. No error

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Fragment B has serious errors. First is that the pronoun they has no proper antecedent. The 

Question 15

In the following, there are sentences or parts of sentences labeled A, B, C, D etc. . . Choose for your answer the fragment that carries an error. Ignore punctuation errors if any.
A. Mao knew that communism in its classical form
B. will not gel into agrarian Chinese society.
C. Hence he redefined Marxism so that it would be
D. in sync with local needs and
E. practiced it in a way that suited China.

A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

will not gel into is non standard and has no meaning. gel or jell as a verb means to solidify or set. Gel/jell with is generally used colloquially. In formal text it is an error. The second error is in the tense ‘will not’ should be changed to ‘would not’.

option B

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