Free English Usage - 07 Practice Test - CAT 

Question 1

A. When I returned to home, I began to read B. everything I could get my hand on about Israel. C. That same year Israel's Jewish Agency sent D. a Shaliach a sort of recruiter to Minneapolis. E. I became one of his most active devotees. (CAT 2007)  

 

A. C & E
B. E only
C. B, C & E
D. C, D & E

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option (b)

A. "to home" is incorrect usage. It should be "When I returned home"

B. "..get my hands on " is the correct usage

C. It should be "The same year"

D. Comma missing after "..a Shaliach, "

E. No error

Question 2

A. So once an economy is actually in recession,
B. the authorities can, in principle, move the economy. 
C. out of slump - assuming hypothetically.
D. that they know how to - by a temporary stimuli.
E. In the longer term, however, such policies have no affect on the overall behaviour of the economy.

(CAT 2007)  

A. A, B & E
B. C & D
C. E only
D. B only

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option (d)

A. Comma missing in "So, once an"
B. No error
C. out of a slump
D. know how to do so
E. have no effect

 

Question 3

There are four sentences or parts of sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) of sentence(s) that is/are correct in terms of grammar and usage and choose the most appropriate option.

A. It is sometimes told that democratic.
B. government originated in the city-states
C. of ancient Greece. Democratic ideals have been handed to us from that time.
D. In truth, however, this is an unhelpful assertion.

(CAT 2007)

A. A, B & D
B. B, C & D
C. B & D
D. B only

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Option (c)

A. It is sometimes told that the democratic

B. No error

C. handed down to us

D. No error

 

 

Question 4

Hand (CAT 2005)                  

 

A. I have my hand full, I cannot do it today.
B. The minister visited the jail to see the breach at first hand.
C. The situation is getting out of hand here!
D. When the roof of my house was blown away, he was willing to lend me a hand.

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option (a)

The correct usage is: "I have my hands full, I cannot do it today."

Question 5

Choose the incorrect usage 

For
(CAT 2005)

A.

He has a great eye for detail.

B.

We are waiting for the day.

C.

I can't bear for her to be angry.

D.

It couldn't be done for ever.

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option (d)

The usage is forever, based on the context and not for ever.

Question 6

Near (CAT 2005)

A.

I got there just after you left. A near miss!

B.

She and her near friend left early.

C.

The war led to a near doubling of oil prices.

D.

They came near to tears seeing the plight of the victims.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option (b)

"near friend" is incorrect usage. "close friend" is the correct usage.

Question 7

The further [A] / farther [B] he pushed himself, the more disillusioned he grew. For the crowds it was more of a historical [A] / historic [B] event; for their leader, it was just another day. The old man has a healthy distrust [A] /mistrust [B] for all new technology. This film is based on a real [A] / true [B] story. One suspects that the compliment [A] / complement [B] was backhanded.

(2007)

A. BABAB
B. ABBBA        
C. BAABA    
D. BBAAB
E. ABABA

SOLUTION

Solution :

OPTION :(b)

"Further means degree or extent of something, whereas "farther" refers to distance in space or time. So "further" is the more appropriate word in this sentence." Historic" is the correct word to describe the event because it means "a significant event" whereas "historical" means ancient, past. "Distrust" is a feeling of suspicion and "mistrust" means lack of trust. In the given sentence, distrust fits in more appropriately making answer option (B) correct.

 

Question 8

Regrettably [A] /Regretfully [B],I have to decline your invitation. I am drawn to the poetic, sensual [A] / sensuous [B]quality of her paintings. He was besides [A] / beside [B] himself with rage when I told him what I had done. After brushing against a stationary [A] / stationery [B] truck my car turned turtle. As the water began to rise over [A] / above [B]the danger mark, the signs of an imminent flood were clear.
The correct sequence is: ___

 

A. BAABA
B. AAABA  
C. BBBAB
D. BBAAB    
E. BABA

SOLUTION

Solution : C

One can decline an invitation "regretfully" and not "regrettably". I am drawn to "sensuous" (giving pleasure to intellectual senses) and not "sensual" (physically passionate) quality of her paintings. He was "beside" himself (meaning unable to control himself) and not besides (in addition to or apart from) the rage. "Stationary" is the correct word because a truck can be stationary or not moving but not stationery or writing material. Water rises "above" the danger mark not "over".

 

Question 9

Their achievement in the field of literature is described as ______; sometimes it is even called ___. (CAT 2003)

A. Magnificent, Irresponsible
B. Insignificant, Influential
C. Significant, Paltry
D. Unimportant, Trivial

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option (d):
Options (a), (b) and (c) are not correct as they contain words with opposite meaning. The question demands words with similar meaning. Hence (d) is correct as "unimportant" and "trivial" have similar meaning.

Question 10

From the time she had put her hair up, every man she had met had grovelled before her and she had acquired a mental attitude toward the other sex which was a blend of _______ and _______. (CAT 2003)

A. Admiration, Tolerance
B. Indifference, Contempt
C. Impertinence, Temperance
D. Arrogance, Fidelity

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option: (b)

The usage of the word "grovelled" suggests that the blanks should contain words with negative connotation. Only option (b) fits the bill.

 

Question 11

This simplified ________ to the decision-making process is a must read for anyone ______ important real estate, personal, or professional decisions.

(2003)

A. primer, maximizing
B. tract, enacting
C. introduction, under
D. guide, facing

SOLUTION

Solution : D

option : (d)

One cannot "maximize", "enact" or "under" a decision. Decisions are "faced". Hence options (a), (b) and (c) get eliminated.