Free English Usage - 08 Practice Test - CAT 

Question 1

It is klang to a sensitive traveler who walks through this great town, when he sees the streets, the roads, and cabin doors crowded with beggars, mostly women, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for alms

A. Amusing
B. irritating
C. disgusting
D. distressing

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (d)

Looking at the wretched condition of the state, no one can be amused (happy). Among irritated (annoyed), disgusting (sickening, distasteful) and distressing (disturbing, painful, traumatic), the last one seems to be the most appropriate

Question 2

Or there is the most fingummy diplomatic note on record: when Philip of Macedon wrote to the Spartans that, if he came within their borders, he would leave not one stone of their city, they wrote back the one word"”"If"

A. Witty
B. rude
C. simple
D. terse

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (d)

Options (b) and (c) are ruled out because 'rude' or 'simple' statements can never be diplomatic.

'Witty' is also ruled out as witty remarks must contain an element of humor. So the correct option is 'terse' which means to the point, laconic

Question 3

Intelligent design derives from an early 19th-century explanation of the natural world given by an English clergyman, William Paley. Paley was the populariser of the famous watchmaker analogy. Proponents of intelligent design are crupping Paley's argument with a new gloss from molecular biology

A. destroying
B. testing
C. resurrecting
D. questioning

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

In the last sentence, 'crupping new gloss' shows   the word 'crupping' has been used to favor Paley's argument (as the term "proponents" is used), as with a gloss means making it look more attractive than it actually is. So destroying, testing and questioning are negative words in the context of the passage.

Question 4

Women squat, heads covered, beside huge piles of limp fodder and blunk oil lamps, and just about all the cows in the three towns converge upon this spot. Sinners, supplicants and yes, even scallywags hand over a few coins for a crack at redemption and a handful of grass

A. shining
B. bright
C. sputtering
D. effulgent

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

In the opening line of the first sentence, the tone (i.e. negative) of blunk oil lamps is similar to limp fodder (useless). So it cannot mean shining, bright or effulgent (shining), and hence the correct option is sputtering (burning or working in an uneven way)

Question 5

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. devious
B. blunt
C. tactful
D. pretentious

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (b)

Ramesh is too blunt (straightforward) in his statement. Hence 'blunt' is the correct answer choice.

Question 6

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. interest
B. taxes
C. principal
D. returns

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (a)

The only way that the amount of Rs. 20,000/= could become Rs. 60,000/= is through addition of interest amount or by imposition of a fine. Since the latter is not mentioned as an answer option, (a) stands out as the correct answer choice.

Question 7

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. sanctions
B. refunds
C. fees
D. fines

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (d)

Owing to the explanation given for the previous question, answer (d) is clearly the right answer choice

Question 8

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. closed
B. detached
C. attached
D. impounded

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

Attach is to take temporary possession of as a security. Impound means "to take legal possession of", which is most often used for objects rather than funds. Thus option (c) is the correct answer choice

Question 9

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. smashed
B. seized
C. dismantled
D. frozen

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (b)

Seize also means to take possession of, which is the correct answer in the given context as the passage implies confiscation of property

Question 10

Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [5] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the Income Tax Department. "I originally owed Rs 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [6] and [7], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income Tax Department then went into action, and I learned firsthand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [8]; automobiles may be [9], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [10] until the case is settled."

A. purchaser
B. victim
C. investor
D. offender

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (d)

If we look at the context of the passage, it is talking about a person who has not paid taxes. Thus offender is the right word here as he has committed an offence by not paying the taxes

Question 11

The ancient Egyptians believed _____________ so that when these objects were magically reanimated through the correct rituals, they would be able to function effectively

A. that it was essential that things they portrayed must have every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible
B. it was essential for things they portray to have had every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible
C. it was essential that the things they portrayed had every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible
D. that when they portrayed things, it should have every relevant feature shown as clearly as possible

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (d)

Answer option (d) clearly stands out as the right answer choice. The word 'believed' should be followed by 'that' for grammatical accuracy. Although option (a) also starts with 'that', but the order of the words is not correct

Question 12

Many people suggest __________ and still others would like to convince people not to buy pirated cassettes

A. to bring down audiocassette prices to reduce the incidence of music piracy, others advocate strong legal action against the offenders
B. bringing down audiocassette prices to reduce the incidents of music piracy, others are advocating strong legal action against offenders
C. bringing down audiocassette prices to reduce the incidence of music piracy, others advocate strong legal action against offenders
D. audiocassette prices to be brought down to reduce incidence of music piracy, others advocate that strong legal action must be taken against offenders

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

Answer option (C) is the correct answer option. "suggest" should be followed by an '-ing' form of the verb. Therefore, we can only consider options (b) and (c). The correct usage is 'incidence' and not 'incidents' of piracy

Question 13

Archaeologists believe that the pieces of red-ware pottery excavated recently near Bhavnagar and ___________ shed light on a hitherto dark 600-year period in the Harappan history of Gujarat

A. Estimated with a reasonable certainty as being about 3400 years old
B. Are estimated reasonably certain to be about 3400 years old
C. Estimated at about 3400 years old with reasonable certainty
D. Estimated with reasonable certainty to be about 3400 years old

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

If we look at the flow of the statement, option (c) seems to fit in best. Option (a) does not qualify as the right answer choice because the arrangement of words is not proper

Question 14

(A) The balance of power will shift to the East as China and India evolve. (B) Rarely the economic ascent of two still relatively poor nations has been watched with such a mixture of awe, opportunism, and trepidation. (C) Postwar era witnessed economic miracles in Japan and South Korea, but neither was populous enough to power worldwide growth or change the game in a complete spectrum of industries. (D) China and India, by contrast, possess the weight and dynamism to transform the 21st-century global economy

A. A, B and C
B. A and D
C. C
D. C and D

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Solution: Correct Answer Choice: (b)

Statements (A) and (D) are grammatically correct.

Statement (B) should be "Rarely has the economic ascent of two still relatively poor nations been watched."

Statement (C) should begin with "The postwar era".

Question 15

(A) People have good reason to care about the welfare of animals. (B) Ever since Enlightenment, their treatment has been seen as a measure of mankind's humanity. (C) It is no coincidence that William Wilberforce and Sir Thomas Fox well Buxton, two leaders of the movement to abolish the slave trade, helped found the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1820s. (D) An increasing number of people go further: mankind has a duty not to cause pain to animals that have the capacity to suffer

A. A and D
B. B
C. A and C
D. C and D

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

Statement (D) is wrong because it does not convey any meaning. It does not form a coherent paragraph. Statement (B) is wrong because the use of the word "mankind's" is redundant

Question 16

(A) When virtuoso teams begin their work, individuals are in and group consensus is       out. (B) As project progresses, however, the individual starts harness themselves to the product of the group. (C) Sooner or later, the members break through their own egocentrism and become a plurality with single-minded focus on the goal. (D) In short, they morph into a powerful team with a shared identity

A. A and C
B. A and D
C. B and D
D. A, C and D

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (b)

Statement (B) is wrong because the word 'harness' cannot be used with individuals. Moreover, "individual starts to "is the correct usage.   Statement (C) is wrong because the word 'own' cannot be used with 'egocentrism'. Statements (A) and (D) are correct

Question 17

(A) Large reductions in the ozone layer, which sits about 15-30 km above the Earth, take place each winter over the polar regions, especially the Antarctic, as low temperatures allow the formation of stratospheric clouds that assist chemical reactions breaking down ozone. (B) Industrial chemicals containing chlorine and bromine have been blamed for thinning the layer because they attack the ozone molecules, making them to break apart. (C) Many an offending chemicals have now been banned. (D) It will still take several decades before these substances have disappeared from the atmosphere

A. D
B. B and D
C. A and D
D. A and C

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Solution: Correct Answer Option: (c)

Statement (A) is grammatically correct. Statement (D) does not have any mistake either. Statement (C) is incorrect because of the wrong usage of the adjective 'offending' with chemicals. Moreover, when "an" is used, "chemical" and not "chemicals" should be used.

In Statement (B) "making them to break apart" is wrong usage

  Thus answer option (c) is the right answer choice.