CAREER ACES MENTORING SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED

Workbook Verbal
Summer Training conducted at the premises of G. Narayanamma Institute Of Technology and Science (for Women)
From 17th June, 2011 to 1st July, 2011

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Document Control & Change History

Version No 1.0

Date of Release 28th June, 2011

Change Description Document prepared by Team Career Aces

Contents
Document Control & Change History ....................................................................................................................... 2 Analogies ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Antonyms ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Sentence Completion ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Sentence Correction ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Reading Comprehension ............................................................................................................................................ 42

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Analogies
Analogies test ones ability to recognise a relationship between two words and to recognise a similar relationship between two other words. If A : B :: C : D (i) If A bears relationship X with B, then C has to bear the relationship X with D and not the other way round. (ii) If A bears relationship Y with C, then B also has to bear the relationship Y with D and not the other way round.

THE 7 STEPS TO CRACK ANALOGIES 1. Find a relationship between two of the capitalised words. Example: PLAY : AUDIENCE :: BOOK : ___________ (A) Writer (B)Publisher (C) Plot (D) Reader Here, the relationship shared between PLAY and AUDIENCE will be shared by the latter half of the analogy. 2. Make up a sentence that expresses the relationship. In the given Example, the sentence should be A play entertains an audience. 3. Try out your sentence by substituting the third capitalised word and each of the answer choices. In the given Example: A. A book entertains a writerNOT REALLY B. A book entertains a publisher.POSSIBLE C. A book entertains a plot.NO SENSE D. A book entertains a readerVERY TRUE 4. If more than one answer seems to work, go back and make your sentence express a more specific relationship. As in the given Example, (A) and (B) are possible, apart from (D) which is the best answer. To avoid confusion, reconstruct and modify the sentence as The audience enjoys the play but is in no way involved in its making. So, The reader enjoys the book but is in no way involved in its making, is the only alternative that fits into this. 5. If none of the choices work exactly, choose the best possible answer.

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6. If some of the words in the answer choices are unknown Analyse whether either word in the answer choice could create a relationship similar to the relationship in the stem. Eliminate the pair if any of the words cannot create a similar relationship. Example :MEANDER : WALK :: (A) encapsulate : prune (B) augment : increase (C) truncate : expel (D) drone : speak Meander means to walk slowly. You can eliminate option (A) even if you dont know the meaning of Encapsulate because one meaning of Prune is that its a kind of fruit and thus it doesnt always act as an action word. You can next eliminate option (C) even if you are not aware of the meaning of Truncate because one cannot be expelled slowly. You are thus left with options (B) and (D). Option (D) is the correct choice because Drone means to speak slowly. 7. If one of the words in the stem is unknown Identify whether the words in the answer choice have a relationship. If any pair of words do not have any relationship, eliminate it. Example :SIDEREAL : STARS :: (A) heckler : plants (B) approval : sniff (C) universe : earth (D) astrophysics : celestial bodies You can eliminate option (A) because the pair of words cannot have any relationship (to heckle is to harass with impertinent questions, jibes etc. and plants cannot harass). You can also eliminate option (B) because the relationship between the pair of words is weak (one doesnt usually sniff to give approval). You are left with options (C) and (D). Sidereal means of or pertaining to stars and astrophysics is the study of celestial bodies. Thus, option (D) is the correct choice. WORDS OF CAUTION I) Bear in mind the secondary meaning of words and not just their primary meaning. Example :MURDER : CROWS :: (A) tune : radio (B) slaughter : cows (C) kindle : kittens (D) carnage : bears II) Be careful about eye-catchers. Example :PERCEPTOR : TEACH :: (A) medium : lecture (B) arbiter : disconcerted (C) architect : building (D) mendicant : beg

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COMMON CATEGORIES OF ANALOGIES 1. Synonyms/Similar Concepts In this character, the related words are similar in meaning. Example : GAUDY : OSTENTATIOUS :: DEJECTED : _______ (A) oppressed (B) informed (C) rejected (D) depressed 2. Antonyms/Contrasting Concepts In this character, the related words are opposite in meaning. Example :________ : AMICABLE :: CHASTE : LEWD (A) hostel (B) hostile (C) amenable (D) amoral

3. Part to Whole If the analogy is written A : B :: C : D, in this category A must be a part of B or B must be a part of A and therefore C must be a part of D or D must be a part of C OR A must be a part of C or C must be a part of A likewise, B must be a part of D or D must be a part of B. Example :- LEAF : TREE :: KEY : __________ (A) lock (B) door (C) typewriter (D) car 4. Part to Part Keep your eye on this relationship. Part to Part is not the same as Part to Whole. Example :HAND : ELBOW :: FOOT : __________ (A) muscle (B) knee (C) leg (D) toe 5. Purpose or Use In this category ask yourself What is the purpose or use of this item. Find your answer in the list and your answer has to be correct. Example :EXERCISE : ______ :: GYMNASIUM : THEATRE (A) action (B) drama (C)stage (D) performance 6. Action to Object

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Here, two of the words will be verbs and the other two words will be nouns. The best way to crack these analogies is to make a sentence with the action and object words and then try to fit the same sentence after replacing the other words.

Example :- SCENE : VIEW :: ______ : DESCRY (A) taste (B) advice (C) odor (D) colour 7. Actor to Object In this category ask yourself what does the person or thing do. Example :SALESMAN : PRODUCT :: TEACHER : _________ (A) principal (B) English (C) pupils (D) subjects 8. Place In this category, the analogy will be based on : where something is kept where some particular person lives two similar places (location wise) Example :KING : PEASANT :: _______ : HOVEL (A) Queen (B) Royalty (C) Self (D) Palace Example :ST. PETERSBURG : MOSCOW :: (A) Calcutta : Delhi (B) Hague : Netherlands (C) Bogota : Lima (D) New York : London 9. Association Here, a pair of words is related / associated to each other by a particular relationship. The other two words that share the same relationship represent the correct pair.

Example :LIBRARY : GYMNASIUM :: _______ : HEALTH (A) Sick (B) School (C) Books (D) Knowledge 10. Sequence The order of the relationship is the key to sequence analogies. NOTE : Be careful to maintain the direction of the sequence on both sides of the analogies.

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Example :BLUEPRINT : BUILDING :: (A) Yesterday : Fortnight (B) Fireplace : Winter (C) Middle Ages : Renaissance (D) Stalk : Seed 11. Characteristic In this category, the pair of words should be a particular thing and a particular kind of its characteristic. Therefore, the other pair of words will have another thing and a parallel characteristic. Example :GOURMET : DISCRIMINATION :: GLUTTON : ________ (A) Excess (B) Food (C) Charity (D) obesity 12. Degree These analogies are similar to the sequence analogies the same cautions apply. The same direction on both sides of the analogies is a must.

Example:RAGE : _______ :: DEMONIC : NAUGHTY (A) irk (B) annoy (C) anger (D) mischief 13. Grammatical In this category, one has to scan for : the order of the part of speech used or the tense used or the degree of the word used The Gender Plural Singular Animals & their sounds

NOTE : The same direction on both sides of the analogies is a characteristic to be careful about Example:STALLION:MARE :: STAG: _________ (A) hind (B) ewe (C) ram (D) heifer 14. Measurement

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This is a relationship between a physical quantity and the device used for its measurement. Example :ODOMETER : ________ :: CLOCK : TIME (A) speed (B) distance (C) pressure (D) temperature 15. Mathematical This category deals with geometrical and numerical relations as well as equalities. Example :12 % : ________ :: 16 2/3% : 1/6 (A) (B) 1/5 (C) 1/8 (D) 1/3 16. Worker to Tool This category involves the relationship between a person of a particular profession and the tool/s he uses in pursuing his profession. Example :PHYSICIAN : _______ :: ACTUARIAN : STATISTICS (A) hospital (B) patient (C) surgeon (D) x-ray 17. Adjective and Noun This category involves the relationship between Adjective and Noun For eg: CAT(noun).. FELINE(Adjective) DOG(Noun).CANINE(Adjective) Example :CANINE : DOG :: (A) confident : orator (B) ursine : bear (C) tusk : elephant (D) troop : kangaroos

SOME OTHER CATEGORIES Process Change Example :- Apple : Cider :: Crude oil : Petrol Relationship of Measure Example :- Aircraft : Mach :: Ship : Knot

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Spatial Sequence Example :- Roof : Foundation :: Zenith : Nadir

Action and its significance Example :- Prostration : Abasement :: Wince : Pain

UNCOMMON CATEGORIES 1. Non Semantic There are two types of non-semantic analogies. i. The type that relies on sound rather than the meaning. The strongest relationship among all the words is that they rhyme. Example :HOE : ROE :: THOUGH : ___________ (A) rough (B) flood (C) flow (D) how ii. The type in which the arrangement and rearrangement of letters in word create the relationship.

Example :EVIL : LIVE :: STEP : ________ (A) stand (B) stop (C) post (D) pets 2. CAUSE AND EFFECT o The order of the words may be EFFECT 1 : CAUSE 1 :: EFFECT 2 : CAUSE 2 CAUSE 1 : EFFECT 1 :: CAUSE 2 : EFFECT 2 EFFECT 1 : EFFECT 2 :: CAUSE 1 : CAUSE 2 CAUSE 1 : EFFECT 1 :: CAUSE 2 : EFFECT 2 CAUSE 1 : CAUSE 2 :: EFFECT 1 : EFFECT 2 But never EFFECT 1 : EFFECT 2 :: CAUSE 2 : CAUSE 1 CAUSE 1 : EFFECT 2 :: CAUSE 2 : EFFECT 1 Example :SATISFACTION : GOOD DEED :: IMPROVEMENT : ______ (A) failure (B) criticism (C) pertinacity (D) kindness 3. TIME SEQUENCE Example :CORRONATION : REIGN :: (A) assessment : auditor (B) bestow : award

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(C) appraisal : hike (D) before : after 4. LATENT REASONING This category is based on certain implied relationship as in proverbs or idiomatic expressions Example :RUN : HARE :: (A) flog : dead horse (B) hunt : hound (C) plough : sand (D) shoe : goose 5. REVERSE ANALOGY In this type of analogy, consider the farthest relationship or an option which has no such relationship as between the stem words Example :GOD : PANTHEON :: (A) bead : necklace (B) member : parliament (C) player : team (D) pendant : chain IMPORTANT NOTE: USE THE PARTS OF SPEECH OF AN ANALOGY TO ELIMINATE OPTIONS Example :KNIFE : CUT :: (A) Pry : Screwdriver (B) Kettle : Store (C) Colander : Strain (D) Pick : Fork

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PREPARATORY TEST 1 1. PUCKER : LIPS :: a) Tremble : fear b) Pour : anger

c) pat : back d) hunch : shoulder

2. FIASCO : FAILURE :: a) Reparation : value c) calamity : dismay b) Annihilation : destruction d) verdict : finality 3. LINGER : DEPARTURE :: a) Dither : choice b) Dawdle : excuse 4. RECUPERATE : HEALTH :: a) Revenge : assault b) Respond : medication 5. SIEVE : DRAINING :: a) Paper : writing b) Oven : cleaning

c) chatter : speech d) mope : laughter

c) regret : opportunity d) revive : consciousness

c) faucet : washing d) filter : separating

6. OFFHAND : FORETHOUGHT :: a) Furtive : secrecy c) ingenious : talent b) Voluntary : coercion d) artistic : success 7. INKLING : CERTITUDE :: a) Portent : omen b) Hope : despair 8. CORRAL : HORSES :: a) Den : lions b) Burrow : rabbits 9. PAN : CAMERA :: a) Ban : book b) Tune : radio 10. EDIFICE : FACADE :: a) Dorsal : ventral b) Turtle : shell

c) scepticism : dubiety d) misgiving : dread

c) coop : chickens d) meadow : sheep

c) rotate : periscope d) colour : kaleidoscope

c) anachronism : chronologic d) body : skeleton

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ANSWER KEY 1. D 2. B 3. A 4. D 5. D 6. B 7. B 8. C 9. C 10. B

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PREPARATORY TEST 2 1. THIEF : FURTIVE :: a) Delinquent : intractable b) Teenager : impulsive 2. CHART : NAVIGATOR :: a) Novel : reader b) Log : captain 3. BANDAGE : LACERATION :: a) Ambulance : transportation b) Cast : fracture 4. DIDACTIC : MORALISE :: a) Teacher : dramatise b) Playwright : plagiarize 5. PANEGYRIC : PRAISE :: a) Oration : prediction b) Fiat : condescension 6. EDDY : WATER :: a) Whirlwind : air b) Ebb : tide 7. BLUNTNESS : HONING : : a) Sloppiness : skipping b) Monotony : rehearsing 8. SUPPLE : BEND :: a) Weak : overpower b) New : create 9. TAXONOMY : CLASSIFY a) Result : experiment b) Fact : observe 10. DUNGEON : CONFINEMENT a) Church : chapel b) Asylum : refuge ANSWER KEY 1. A

c) glutton : obese d) fame : illusory

c) map : tourist d) graph : mathematician

c) alcohol : antiseptic d) transfusion : blood

c) callow : rationalise d) None of these

c) stutter : hesitation d) valediction : farewell

c) fault : earthquake d) surge : current

c) maturity : developing d) leakiness : caulking

c) colossal : measure d) brittle : polish

c) metric : measure d) criterion : modify

c) school : truancy d) hospital : mercy

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2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

B B D D A D A C B

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Antonyms
Words that mean the opposite of another word are referred to as antonyms. For example, the antonym of empty is full. Some words can have more than one antonym, depending on the context in which the same word is used. For instance, the word short could have the antonyms, long and tall. Thus in order to get the correct antonym, one ought to consider the meaning and the usage of the word. Types of Antonyms: Graded antonyms: Graded antonyms are pairs of words that belong to a scale or continuum. The group of graded antonyms encompasses any two words that are on opposing sides of spectrum. For example, let us look at the word good. Now, the antonym for good would be bad but then, the word good could be placed on a scale and this could throw up several possible antonyms such as satisfactory, commendable, exceptional, sterling, atrocious and so on. Examples:

lazy industrious stiff limp miserable happy violent gentle chaos order soften harden nervous calm reckless cautious clever foolish early late dangerous safe evil good beautiful ugly best worst easy difficult empty full fat skinny young old happy sad

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hard soft last first foolish wise quick slow warm cool wide narrow abundant scarce

Complimentary antonyms: These pairs of words represent the only two opposite possibilities and there is no middle ground or scale that is involved between the two words. Examples:

day night pass fail solid fluid thaw freeze vacant occupied man woman inward outward input output exhale inhale sadism masochism dead alive right wrong absent present against for exit entrance push pull sink float employ dismiss married single question answer

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true false send receive attack defend accidental intentional former latter depart arrive exterior interior

Relational / converse antonyms: These words describe a relationship between two opposites. In simple words, it refers to two words that exist within the same situation. In other words, one cannot exist without the other. They are a sub-type of complementary antonyms.

instructor pupil bye sell servant master husband wife doctor patient above below give receive teach learn come go toward away employer employee parent child borrow lend

STRATEGY When you are CERTAIN about the meaning of the stem word 1) Think of the antonyms of the capitalised words before considering the choices. Example :ASSIDUOUS (A) slothful (B) fiery (C) tranquil (D) placid

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2) The best answer may not be the ideal answer look for the best from the given choices. Example :WARMONGER (A) transgressor (B) malefactor (C) co-ordinator (D) negotiator 3) Read all the choices before deciding which is the best. Example :HEADSTRONG (A) hazardous (B) mulish (C) merciful (D)tractable When you have a VAGUE idea about the meaning of the stem word 1) Think of the Context / Word Association if you are not certain about the meaning of the stem. Example :IMMACULATE (A) parody (B) blameless (C) solemnity (D) defiled 2) Look at the Prefix, Root, Suffix of the word. They may help you understand the meaning of the word. Example :DECADENCE (A) vice (B) downgrade (C) morality (D) impurity 3) A prefix may indicate a Positive or a Negative Connotation. Example :PROPONENT (A) patron (B) apostle (C) sluggish (D) antagonist Eliminate those answer choices that do not have an opposite connotation. 4) Pay special attention to the strength of the word whether it is extreme, moderate or mild. Example :GRANDILOQUENT

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(A) restrained (B) inflated (C) creative (D) overwhelmed When you are NOT AWARE of the meaning of the stem at all 1) Eliminate answer choices that dont have clear opposites. Example :ENTENTE (A) flavour (B) disagreement (C) sensual (D) determination 2) Guess the extremes. One of the extreme choices will most probably be the correct choice. Example :SKEDADDLE (A) stroll (B) cheat (C) resist (D) flee WORDS OF CAUTION 1) Consider the secondary meanings of the words. Example :MAY (A) maiden (B) uncouth (C) married woman (D)gratitude 2) Watch out for Eye-catchers. Example :UNDERLING (A) withhold (B) overture (C) superior (D) overestimation 3) Watch out for trick choices. Example :RESTIVE (A) causative (B) patient (C) fretful (D) unruly PREPARATORY TEST 1 1. CLEMENCY

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a) b) c) d)

Foolishness Sadness Loudness Harshness

2. QUIXOTIC a) Fortunate b) Practical c) Devoted d) Proud 3. MONUMENTAL a) Biased b) Vacant c) Trivial d) Ingenious 4. AEON a) Short time b) Polite refusal c) Valuable article d) Vague impression 5. EXEGESIS a) Abrupt explanation b) Unexpected increase c) Dignified greeting d) Casual interpretation 6. DON a) To move unsteadily b) To grow greater c) To become weak d) To remove 7. CREDULITY a) Scepticism b) Dependence c) Simplicity d) Candour

8. LEVITATE a) Try to compete

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b) Cause to fall c) Inflame d) Retract 9. INVALIDATE a) Respect b) Confirm c) Inspect carefully d) Accuse unfairly 10. TYNE a) Irregular projection b) Prong c) Blunt projecting point d) Distended skin

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ANSWER KEY 1. D 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. D 6. D 7. A 8. B 9. B 10. C

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PREPARATORY TEST 2 1. UNKEMPT a) Guarded b) Rational c) Neat d) Immure 2. RUE a) Be glad of b) Give aid to c) Prolong d) Refrain from 3. MISANTHROPE a) Philanthropist b) Perfectionist c) Dogmatist d) Expert 4. VAN a) Gigantic b) Truck c) Titan d) Hindermost 5. FLIMFLAM a) Cheap b) Expensive c) Foolish d) Honest 6. AMORPHOUS a) Penetrable b) Definite c) Unstructured d) Chaotic 7. BROBDINGNAGIAN a) Small b) Brave c) Gigantic d) Movement

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8. FROWARD a) Compliant b) Moderate c) Background d) Backward 9. ELUCIDATE a) Implant b) Becloud c) Offer d) Pretend 10. OPACITY a) Viscosity b) Fluency c) Translucence d) Obsolescence 11. SEQUESTER a) Duplicate b) Correlate c) Integrate d) Convict 12. DILETTANTE a) Connoisseur b) Defender c) Chaperon d) Deviant 13. AWRY a) Compact b) Wholesome c) Aligned d) Stationary 14. PLACATE a) Mismanaged b) Isolate c) Destroy d) Irritate 15. CAVORT

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a) b) c) d)

Dance Be passive Fool around Remain in one place

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ANSWER KEY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. C A A D D B A A B C C A C D B

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Sentence Completion
Before looking at the answer choices, think of words (and their synonyms) you would insert on your own o Matisse was unusually _________ about his painting; to read his statements is to see more clearly through his eyes his intents and his technical procedures. (a) modest (c) articulate Ans: C Consider all the answer choices before you choose o Like most ____________ literature, this moving remembrance of the poets parents primarily expresses lamentations for their deaths. (a) dogmatic (c) abstract Ans: D Look for clues in the sentence o Some classical civilizations adhered to a rational system for maintaining ___________, thereby keeping society static. (a) deregulation (c) equilibrium Ans: C CLUES Words that suggest CAUSE & EFFECT Ergo thus thereupon accordingly therefore consequently in order to thereupon thereby because subsequently so that when. then given hence if .then (b) mandate (d) ideology (b) mournful (d) elegiac (b) coherent (d) superficial

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Words that SUPPORT veritably too and likewise moreover furthermore additionally Words that suggest EXPLICIT CONTRAST nonetheless yet still in contrast instead of albeit despite rather than none the less on the contrary Words that suggest IMPLICIT CONTRAST oddity irony deviation discrepancy disparity anomaly paradox incongruity peculiarity ironic illogical surprising modification anomalous paradoxical incongruous aberration ironically illogically fluctuation unexpectedly anomalously paradoxically incongruously though but while in spite of however although even though nevertheless notwithstanding naturally also indeed as well besides withal Colon/semicolon (:/;)

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deviate

deviance

deviancy

In double blank sentences test the first/ second word by inserting it in the blank o Never forgetting his education as a preacher, Burwell often interrupts the narrative with ____________ commentary, eager that his readers ____________ the moral. (a) loquacious, imbibe (b)prophetic, discredit (c) bombastic, disregard (d) didactic, grasp Use Prefixes, Suffixes and Roots to find out the meaning of unfamiliar words Example: PREFIX MEANING WORD Apo Away, from, off Apostate ROOT MEANING WORD Anim Mind, soul Equanimity SUFFIX MEANING WORD Acious, icious Full of Audacious, Avaricious Examples: 1) Because the scope of these essays is broad and the subjects of analysis are not always relevant essays like these may not provide as good a/an ___________ for demonstrating your ability to think for yourself. (a) arena (c) forum (b) scope (d) experience

Ans: C 2) Folklore is not only something of the past but is a/an _______ entity ________ of reflection, aberration, suggestion and at rare times interpretation. (a) redundant, comprising (b) wholesome, possessing (c) organic, capable (d) prodigious, capable Ans: C 3) The eternal appeal of dharma depends on strict observance. Nonetheless many of us in this day and age _________ it. (a) depreciate (b) behold (c) scrutinize (d) revere Ans: A 4) Despite the mixtures _________ nature, the researcher found that by lowering its temperature in the laboratory he could dramatically reduce the mixtures tendency to vaporise. (a) resilient (b) volatile (c) homogenous (d) insipid

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(e) acerbic Ans: B 5) Wanting to understand the most fundamental questions of the universe isnt the province of _____ intellectuals alone, as this books enormous ______ has demonstrated. (a) ivory-tower, popularity (b) political, sale (c) straitjacketed, fame (d) none of the above Ans: A 6) Alice Walkers prize-winning novel exemplifies the first-person narratives; the protagonist tells her story so effectively that any additional commentary would be ___________ (a)Eloquent (b) Superfluous (c) Incontrovertible (d) Admirable Ans: B 7) And while a good many people adapted themselves to confinement and carried on their __________ lives as before, there were others who ____________ and whose one idea was to break loose from the stifling house. (a) humdrum, rebelled (b) routine, clamoured (c) tedious, protested (d) regular, rebelled Ans: A 8) For the new philosophers the fact is that philosophy as traditionally understood is a thinking no longer relevant for the post-modern consciousness and world; if it might still have a roll it can only be in some __________ sense: as writing its own obituary, clearing away the rubble of its own ruined foundations, speculating as to what it might now mean to live and think postphilosophically. (a) radically attenuated (b)rationally justified (c) either of these (d) none of these Ans: A 9) According to his hypothesis, an early first full-term pregnancy would provide the greatest protection against cancer by drastically reducing, early on, the presence of undifferentiated and hence _________ cells, thereby decreasing the risk of __________ transformation. (a) vulnerable, subsequent (b) carcinogenic, radical (c) malignant, recurring (d) susceptible, recurring Ans: A

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10) Paul Cezanne was in many respects the ___________ artist, the tortured soul racked with doubt, filled with conflict. The doubt that ________ him arose precisely because of the artist conflict _________ within him: in every stroke of the brush he waged the eternal struggle between chaos and order. (a) misanthropic, stupefied, breeding (b) archetypal, engulfed, storming (c) melancholic, destroyed, titillating (d) disillusioned, wrecked, waning Ans: B

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PREPARATORY TEST Instruction: Fill in the blanks in each of the following questions with the suitable options given. 1. There's no mutually beneficial situation for workers of the world, in the current era at least. American steelworkers here _______________, ergo Russian and South Korean steelworkers overseas do worse. a) Faulter b) Predominate c) Wamble d) Advertise 2. There were purges and there were trials, but compared with the 1940s these were mild indeed. Germany was finally reunited, and, the ___________ situation in the Balkans notwithstanding, Europe survived the end of the Cold War. a) Appalling b) Encouraging c) Conducive d) Serendipitous 3. Scientific research has become so ___________ that even leading scientists are now expected to __________ their work in order to obtain grants. a) Vital, propose b) Exact, minimise c) Expensive, justify d) Intricate, forestall 4. She bore the harsh winters with ____________ ___________. a) Calm, fortitude b) Serene, patience c) Veiled, impatience d) Stoic, sufferance 5. Unfortunately, certain aspects of democratic government sometimes put pressure on politicians to take the easy way out, allowing ____________ to crowd out __________. a) Exigencies, necessities b) Immediacies, ultimates c) Responsibilities, privileges d) Principles, practicalities

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6. In poetry intended for presentation to large audiences with ____________ expectations, there can be no place for _____________ or for strained subtleties of any kind. a) Emotional, controversy b) Political, duplicity c) Humorous, levity d) Unsophisticated, preciosity

7. Mr. Singh is usually congenial and so his ______________ behaviour seemed incongruous to those who know him well. a) Splenetic b) Affable c) Mellow d) Gracious 8. When businesses threaten to ____________ over-critical investigative journalism pieces or to cancel advertising, an editor or news director must decide whether to use a/an ____________ story, even if it risks the loss of revenue or the loss of his or her own job. a) Sue, provocative b) Litigate, incisive c) Sue, interesting d) Take, sensational 9. After a lot of deliberation Jack came to the conclusion that living a __________ life as an editor wasn't as appealing as living in the grand style, albeit as someone else's valet. a) Flamboyant b) Exciting c) Modest d) Stimulating 10. An inquisitive girl, Jennifer, becomes ____________ in a discussion of philosophy with a faceless correspondent. At the same time, she must ______________ a mystery involving another girl, Rose, by utilising everything she has learned. a) Involved, create b) Involved, solve c) Embroiled, unravel d) Engrossed, contrive

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ANSWER KEY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. B A C D B D A A C C

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Sentence Correction
Frequent errors in Usage of NOUNS o The Possessive case-ending is seldom used with inanimate objects. The chairs leg is broken. o An Abstract Noun has no Plural number. He gave me many advices. o When an Abstract Noun is used as a Collective Noun it takes a Plural verb. Youth is the pillar of any nation. o Use few with Countable Nouns and less with Uncountable Nouns. I watched less dramas during summer. Last year I spent few amount of money in refurbishing my home. o There are some Nouns which do not have a Plural form. The sceneries of Arunachal Pradesh are enchanting. I have read many poetries when I was in college Frequent errors in Usage of PRONOUNS o The following pattern is used to show different persons in a sentence. I, you and she made this victory possible. I and he often have lunch together. o But when something goes wrong the pattern changes. He, you and I have ruined the plan. He and I should share the blame. o Than must be followed by a person in the nominative case. John is more intelligent than me. o When neither.nor / either.or is used in a sentence, the pronoun should be as per the last object.

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Neither Mita nor Jenny will give their best in the debate competition. Neither the children nor I will go to the picnic Frequent errors in the Usage of VERBS o A verb should agree with its subject, and not with the object. What is desired are not many theories which are popular, but one which is tenable. o A verb should not be left without a proper agreement (with a subject) or with no agreement at all. Being an extremely cold day, I did not venture out of my home. Frequent errors in the Usage of ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS o Little : hardly any [ it has a negative meaning ]. He displayed little remorse. o A Little : some, but not much [ has a positive meaning ]. A little tact would have been advisable. o The Little : not much but all there is. The little information given by the informant was reliable. o The words superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior take to instead of than. As a poet, T. S. Eliot is superior than P. B. Shelly. o Latter is often wrongly used for last. Use latter when there are only two and last when there are more. Of the three, biryani, sandwich and tandoori chicken, the latter is Ajays favourite. o As a general rule, the word only should be placed immediately before the word it modifies. I have known them only for a year. Frequent errors in the Usage of PREPOSITIONS o IN: In relates to a wide extent of space or time. AT: At relates to a smaller extent of space or time. The work is in hand. (= in a state of progress) The end is at hand. (= very close) He will start at six oclock in the morning. o IN : is used with names of countries, large towns and cities. AT: is more often used with small towns and villages. They are in the UK.

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She lives at Khammam in Andhra Pradesh. o IN: we use in when we are talking about a place as an area. AT: we use at when we see it as a point. The plane re-fuelled in Delhi on the way to Iran. I have lived at Defense Colony since my birth. o IN: we use in with the names of streets. AT: we use at when we give the house number. He lives in Church Street. He lives at 10 Church Street o TILL : is used while speaking of time. TO : is used while speaking of place She slept till 8 oclock. He walked to the end of the road. o SINCE : it denotes some point in time and is preceded by a verb in the perfect tense. : it can be used only in reference to past. FROM : it denotes some point in time and is used with the non-perfect tense. : it can also be used for present & future. FOR : it is used with a period of time I have eaten nothing from yesterday. He studied Sanskrit since the age of ten. He has been ill for 6 days. o IN : when used before a noun denoting a period of time, means at the end of. WITHIN : when used before a noun denoting a period of time, means before the end of. He shall return in (= at the end of) an hour. He shall return within (= in less than) an hour. o AT : we use at to talk about group activities/workplaces. ON : we use on when we think of a place as as a surface. I was introduced to him at the party. Did you meet Jason at the bakers.

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The coaster is on the table. o BETWEEN : is used to refer to two things, persons or ideas. AMONG : is used when there are more than two. There was a passage between the two houses. He liked to spend his evening among his friends. o UNDER : is used with persons/things. UNDERNEATH : is used The man works under me. I pushed the box underneath the table. o BESIDE : means at / by the side of. BESIDES : means in addition to. He came and sat beside me. Besides advising them he gave them some money. o Certain Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives and Participles are always followed by particular prepositions. For example: Though we always say die of fever, we never say sick of fever, but always sick with fever Correct the following: He is considered a traitor by his country because he sold military secrets to an enemy. This company specializes in services allied with motion pictures. Frequent errors in the Usage of ARTICLES o We use the before words like Republic, Kingdom and United. Several cities in U. K. was attacked by terrorists. o We use the with places like school, church, hospital, etc. when we think of them as buildings/objects rather than think of the activities that go on there. but We omit the article when we use the places for their primary purpose. Our entire family goes to the church on Sundays. My house is near the church. Frequent errors in TENSES

only

with

things.

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o We use the Present Perfect Tense to express actions whose time is not given and not definite. Did you read David Copperfield? o We use Present Perfect Tense to describe a past event when we think more of its effect in the present than of the action itself. My younger brother ate all the chocolates. o The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used when we emphasise the continuity of an action that is already finished. Why are his clothes so wet? He was watering the garden. o If two actions happened in the past, it may be necessary to show which action happened earlier than the other. In such a case, the Simple Past is used in one clause and the Past Perfect is used in the other. I completed the report when my colleague came to remind me about the board meeting. o We use the Future Perfect Tense when we talk about actions that will be completed by a certain time in the future. I shall finish baking the cake before the party starts. Frequent errors in SUBJECT & VERB AGREEMENT o The verb should be made to agree in number with its proper subject and not with a noun near it. The results of the recognition of this fact is seen in the gradual improvement of the diet of the poor. o If two or more singular Nouns or Pronouns joined by and suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or thing, the Verb is Singular. Curry and rice are his favourite food o Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, etc., are parenthetical, i.e. of lesser importance. The verb should therefore be put in the singular. The horse as well as the rider were hurt by the fall. But o When the Subjects connected by as well as differ in Number or Person or both, the Verb takes the Number and Person of the Subject that stands first. He as well as you is tired of the whole affair.

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o A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one whole; plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of. The committee has issued its report. The committee is divided on one minor point. o When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally singular. Fifteen minutes are allowed to each speaker. Three parts of the project are left for me to complete PREPARATORY TEST 1 In each of the following sentences certain parts have been underlined. Choose the part that contains an error.
1) It is necessary that the student take an entrance exam to be admitted into a University of repute. No error.

2) Miserable doesnt begin to describe how my troops and I felt during two weeks of maneuvers. No error. A B C D E 3) Philippines are a group of Islands located outside India. No error. A B C D E 4) A heir is someone who has the right to inherit a persons money, property or title when that person dies. A B C D 5) The farmer and his cow which lived here have died. No error. A B C D E 6) It seems to be getting worse. You had better consult with a specialist. No error. A B C D E 7) He allowed father to be overruled by the judge, and declared his own son to be guilty. No error. A B C D E 8) Is India allied to Israel against Irans nuclear program, which is one of the most polarizing issues in one of the A B C worlds most polarizing regions? No error. D E 9) Every one concedes that his knowledge of Indian vernaculars are far beyond the ordinary. No error A B C D E 10) Something extremely strange has happened yesterday while we were out jogging. No error. A B C D E

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ANSWER KEY: 1) B 2) E 3) A 4) A 5) B 6) D 7) A 8) A 9) C 10)B

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Reading Comprehension
PASSAGE 1 As they craft corporate-level strategy, most chief executives today fail to address two crucial questions: what business should this company rather than rival companies, own and why? And what organizational structure, management processes, and philosophy will foster superior performance from its businesses? We are not saying that chief executives intentionally avoid or ignore those questions. They simply lack the tools and processes for the job. Most planning processes focus on developing business-level, rather than, corporate-level, strategies. Even more important, the planning frame-works that corporate-level strategists have commonly used have proven inappropriate or impractical. The growth/share matrix introduced in the 1970s and adopted by two-thirds of all US corporations within a decade, encouraged companies to balance their business portfolios with a mix of stars, cash cows, and question marks. But the poor performance of companies using the portfolio-management technique, and disillusionment with diversification, has discouraged all but a handful of companies from using it today. For the past five to ten years, increasing number of companies have been trying to stick to their knitting, as Tom Peters and Bob Waterman first advised in the book In Search of Excellence in 1982. Companies have been shedding the businesses they acquired as diversifications in order to focus instead on core businesses, relying for guidance on the core competence concept. In introducing the concept (The Core Competence of the Corporation, HBR May June 1990), C. K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel proposed that companies should build portfolios of businesses around shared technical and operating competencies and should develop structures and processes to enhance their core competencies. Despite its powerful appeal, the core competence concept has not provided practical guidance for developing corporate-level strategy. Many companies have tried to define their core competencies, but, lacking reliable analytical tools, few have achieved the clarity they sought. Furthermore, the core competency model does not account for the success of the companies such as Asea Brown Boveri, BTR, Emersion Electric, General Electric, Hanson and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, whose businesses have limited technical or operating overlap. The framework we propose the parenting framework fills in the deficiencies of the core competence model. It provides a rigorous conceptual model as well as the tools needed for an effective corporate-level planning process. Based on research with some of the worlds most successful diversified companies, the parenting framework is grounded in the economics of competitive strategy. Multi-business companies bring together under a parent organisation businesses that could potentially be independent. Such parent companies can justify themselves economically only if their influence creates value. For example, the parent organisation can improve the businesses plans and budgets, promote better linkages among them, provide especially competent central functions, or make wise choices in its own acquisitions, divestments and new ventures.

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Multi-business companies create value by influencing or parenting the business they own. The best parent companies create more value than any of their rivals would if they owned the same businesses. Those companies have what we call parenting advantage. Previous strategic frameworks have focussed on the businesses in the portfolio and searched for a logic by examining how they relate to one another. The underlying assumption has been that portfolios of related businesses perform better than portfolios of unrelated ones. The growth/share matrix implies that businesses are related if their cash, profit and growth performance create a balance within a portfolio. The core competence concept says that businesses are related if they have a common technical or operating know-how. The parenting framework, in contrast, focuses on the competence of the parent organisation and on the value created from the relationship between the parent and its businesses. The parent organisation is an intermediary between investors and businesses. It competes not only with other parent organisations but also with other intermediaries, such as investment trusts and mutual funds. Corporate-level strategies, therefore, make sense to the extent that the parent creates sufficient value to compete with other intermediaries. That occurs when the parents skills and resources fit well with the needs and opportunities of the businesses. If there is a fit, the parent is likely to create value. If there is not a fit, the parent is likely to destroy value. The parent, we have found, is highly influential, and its effect is rarely neutral. Demerger decisions, such as the one facing Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1992, dramatically illustrate the importance of fit between the parent and its businesses. To split a large and venerable organisation that had been built up over decades demanded a powerful rationale. Divestment decisions, such as the exit of oil companies form the minerals business, also illustrate the logic of the fit. Companies such as British Petroleum (BP), Exxon and Shell entered minerals in order to diversify. They believed they had the appropriate skills for that business because, like oil, it involved exploration, extraction, government relations, and large, technically complex projects. Minerals and oil seemed to share competencies. However, after more than ten years of experience, oil companies are getting out of the mineral business. BP sold its mineral businesses to RTZ Corporation in 1989, and Shell recently sold its operations to Gencor in South Africa. Why? Because their minerals businesses have consistently underperformed than those of minerals specialists. The minerals businesses of Atlantic Richfield, BP, Exxon, Shell and Standard Oil had an average pre-tax return on sales of 10% during the mid 1980s, while independent metal companies achieved a 17% return. One reason for this disparity is the influence that managers in oil-company parents exercised over decisions made in their metals businesses. As a manager in BPs minerals businesses explains, The problem was that BP managing directors could not really come to grips with the minerals business or feel they understood it. There was always that vestige of suspicion that led to a temptation to say no to proposals from business, or alternatively, if they said yes, to say yes for the wrong reasons. In other words, the influence of the parent managers on the minerals business was faulty because of insufficient understanding an insufficient fit - between the parent and the business. The oil companies diversification into minerals failed because, despite similarities, some success factors in minerals are different from those in oil. Exploration, for instance, is not as critical. Finding new mineral deposits is not as critical. Finding new mineral deposits is not necessarily a passport to profit. More important is access to low-cost deposits because only those deposits make profits in cyclical downturns. For minerals businesses, forming joint ventures with companies that already have low-cost mines can be more profitable than searching for new
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deposits. Pressure from oil-company managers to spend more on exploration was therefore counter-productive. RTZ, the new parent of BPs minerals businesses, has not had that problem, however. It has been easy to add value, Robert Adams, RTZs planning director, explains, 'because we have some specialist expertise in mine planning and operations and a natural affinity for the investment and exploration decisions and trade-offs that you face in cyclical minerals businesses. The oil-company examples show that fit between parent and businesses is a two-edged sword. A good fit can create additional value; a bad one can destroy value. Bad parenting causes businessunit managers to make worse decisions than they would have otherwise. In one company, the managers in the minerals business had taken bad advice about exploration techniques from their oil-company bosses. When asked why, they replied, They had acquired us so we thought they must know something we didnt. Our framework for developing corporate-level strategy is based on assessing the nature of the fit between the corporate parent and its businesses. Is there a match that will create value, or a mismatch that will destroy value? By answering that question, corporate strategists can consider which changes either to the portfolio of businesses or to the parenting approach will improve fit. Few corporate-level managers find it easy to assess the fit between the corporate parent and its businesses. The reason, in part, is that they seldom openly address the question. But even if they do, it is a tough question to answer. It is like asking whether a particular manager fits a particular job. One must understand a great deal about the manager and the job to judge well. To aid those judgements, we have developed a structured analytical approach. It begins with an assessment of the businesses. First, we examine the critical success factors of each business. We need to understand those factors in order to judge where the parents influence is positive and where it is negative. Second, we document areas in the businesses in which performance can be informed. Those are areas in which the parent can add value. They represent the upside potential. Armed with those analyses, we then review the characteristics of the parent, grouped in a number of categories. That analysis ensures that managers will consider all the main characteristics of the parent when they judge whether its influence is likely to fit the businesss opportunities and needs. The final step is to test the judgements against the results that the businesses achieve under the influence of the parent. 1. It can be inferred from the passage that a) US corporations are hesitant to try innovative approaches. b) Most companies in the US have been depicting a poor performance. c) Deficiencies in understanding the framework have resulted in most US companies not wanting to diversify. d) Chief executives are unable to distinguish the difference between business level strategy and corporate strategy. 2. The case of the BP oil company is cited in the passage to show that: a) BP oil company had to sell its mineral business due to consistent underperformance. b) It exemplifies the result of poor match between the parent and the acquired company.

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c) BP oil company was following all other oil companies who were getting out of mineral business. d) The BP managing directors were inefficient and suspicious. 3. All the following can be said about the parenting framework except a) It is a definite advancement upon the core competence concept. b) It is derived from the economies of competitive strategy. c) It focuses on the competencies of the parent organisation. d) It assesses the nature of the fit between corporate parent and its business. 4. Knitting probably means a) Core competencies b) Diversifications c) Business portfolios d) Parent organisation 5. The reason given by managers in mineral business acquiescing to bad advice from their oil company bosses is : a) Since the oil company had acquired the mineral business. b) Since they felt that by the virtue of acquisition, they were the best people to advice them. c) Since they were under the impression that acquisition of the company must be made because of their knowledge in the particular area. d) None of the above. 6. The tone of the author is a) Extolling b) Condemning c) Critical d) Analytical 7. Which is the proper order of the structured analytical approach a) Examining critical success factors b) Review the characteristics of the parent c) Test the judgements against the result that the businesses achieve under the influence of the parent d) Document areas of upside potential i) I, II, III, IV ii) I, III, II, IV iii) I, IV, III, II

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iv) SECTION 2

I, IV, II, III

1. Who wants to be a millionaire? In the song the answer was, I dont. But that was in another country. Gone these days are the characters who practically defined American heroism, epic and tragic Buck and Holden, Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Brown. Nearly all of Hemingways heroes are defeated in Winners Take Nothing. What is the authors attitude in the passage? a) Nostalgic about old values b) Despair about changing values c) Both of the above d) None of the above 2. Consolidation seems to be the latest trend or buzz-word in the banking industry. With the first major banking merger, the one between Times Bank and HDFC Bank attracting major success, some other banks too have shown keen interest towards joining the merger. The passage above supports/suggests each of the following except: a) There have been no mergers in the banking industry before the one mentioned. b) The banking industry is prone to trends. c) Banks are ready to copy successful strategies. d) None of the above. 3. Para-psychology or para-normal is a branch of psychology which deals with phenomena which are beyond the realm of the five senses. Experiments show that the human mind can operate from another plane, the faculty of intuition. We have all experienced at some time or the other that gut feeling is invariably correct. There is no rational explanation as to why you feel what you do but there it is. It would be a rare person who has never felt a sense of foreboding or a sense of relation which was justified later as some information unfolded itself and one could connect the feelings with the fact. It is usually a hindsight which tells you that what you experienced was an intuitive flash. With which of these statements is the author most likely to agree? a) Rarely do we experience phenomena beyond the realm of the five senses. b) Your unconscious mind is constantly giving you messages. c) Para-psychology is a pseudo-science. d) When a gut feeling turns out to be correct, it is a mere coincidence.

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4. History gives a cruel experience of human nature, in showing how exactly the regard due to the life, possessions, and entire earthly happiness of any class of persons, was measured by what they had the power of enforcing; how all who made any resistance to authorities that had arms in their hands, however dreadful might be the provocation against them; and in the eyes of those who resisted, were not only guilty of crime, but of the worst of all crimes, deserving the most cruel chastisement that human beings could inflict. The first small vestige of a feeling of obligation in a superior to acknowledge any right in inferiors, began when he had been induced, for convenience, to make some promise to them. Though these promises, even when sanctioned by the most solemn oaths, were for many ages revoked or violated on the most trifling provocation or temptation, it is probable that this, except by persons of still worse than average morality, was seldom done without some twinges of conscience. The author implies that laws are based on a) Promises made to those without power by those with the most power. b) The notions of social obligation that are passed from generation to generation. c) The interests of those in a society who possess the most power. d) The belief that earthly happiness is the right to everyone in society, including those who resist authority. 5. A mysterious phenomenon is the ability of over-water migrants to travel on course. Birds, bees and other species can keep track of time without any sensory cues from the outside world, and such biological clocks clearly contribute to their compass sense. For example, they can use the positions of the sun or stars, along with the time of day, to find north. But compass sense alone cannot explain how birds navigate the ocean: after a flock travelling east is blown for south by a storm, it will assume the proper north-easterly course to compensate. Perhaps, some scientists thought, migrants determine their geographic position on Earth by celestial navigation, almost as human navigators use stars and planets, but this would demand of the animals a fantastic map sense. Researchers now know that some species have a magnetic sense, which might allow migrants to determine their geographic variations in the strength of the Earths magnetic field. The main idea of the passage is that a) Migration over land requires a simpler explanation than migration over water does. b) The means by which animals migrate over water are complex and only partly understood. c) The ability of migrant animals to keep track of time is related to their magnetic sense. d) Knowledge of geographic location is essential to migrants with little or no compass sense.

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6. In the colonies the truth stood naked, but the citizen of the mother country preferred it with clothes on the nature that had to be loved, something in the way mothers are loved. The European elite undertook to manufacture a native elite. They picked out promising adolescents; they branded them as with a red-hot iron, with the principles of Western culture, they stuffed their mouth full with high-sounding phrases, grand gluttonous words that stuck to the teeth. The author probably is a) A Westerner b) An African National c) An Anti-colonist d) A Historian

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ANSWER KEY PASSAGE 1 1. B 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. C 6. D 7. D SECTION 2 1. A 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. C

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