Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is 'Urgent.'

Key Points

• The given sentence is saying that the past year has showcased the need for immediate requirements for comprehensive surveillance reform.
• Therefore, the most appropriate word to be filled in the blank is 'Urgent'.
• Also, the use of the word ''need'' in the sentence indicates the use of the word 'urgent' in the blank.
• The word 'Urgent' means Requiring immediate action or attention.
• Example: He tried desperately to convey how urgent the situation was.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Complete Sentence: The past year has showcased why the need for comprehensive surveillance reform is so urgent.

Additional Information

• Let us explore  the other options:
• Diligent means Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
• Cognizant means Having knowledge or awareness.
• Intelligent means Having or showing intelligence, especially of a high level.
• Convergent means Coming closer together; converging.

The correct answer is 'Profound.'

Key Points

• The given sentence is saying that it was clear that a very great change was coming with the passing of former AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa.
• Therefore, the most appropriate word to be filled in the blank is 'Profound'.
• Also, the use of the word ''change'' in the sentence indicates the use of the word 'profound' in the blank.
• The word 'Profound' means Very great or intense.
• Example: To achieve profound change, women must necessarily work within the existing structure.

Hence, the correct answer is option 5.

Complete Sentence: It was clear that a profound change was coming, starting in late 2016, with the passing of former AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa.

Additional Information

• Let us explore  the other options:
• Found means To base something on a particular principle, idea, or feeling.
• Wound means An injury to a person's feelings or reputation.
• Bound means A limitation or restriction on feeling or action.
• Hound means To harass, persecute, or pursue relentlessly.

The correct answer is displayed. 

Key Points

• In the given sentence, we need a word close to the meaning of 'exhibited' to fill in the blank.
• Let us see the meanings of the given words:
• Suspended: to stop something from being active, either temporarily or permanently
• Spent: having been used and unable to be used again
• Displayed: to show something or a collection of things in an organized way for people to see
• Surrounded: to be everywhere around something
• Commanded: control over someone or something and responsibility for him, her, or it
• From the meanings of the words, we can say that 'displayed' is the most appropriate answer.
• Therefore, the correct answer is 'displayed.'

​The complete sentence: It was a strange fact, however, that talent and skill, if displayed for too long, cease to dazzle.

The correct answer is Option (2) i.e. Put aside their differences

Key Points

• First, let's look at the meaning of the above phrasal verbs:
• Put aside:  To ignore or not deal with something. 
• Ex: Let's put aside our differences and focus on the task at hand.
• Put off:  Delay, postpone
• Ex: When are you going to learn to drive? You can’t keep putting it off forever!
• Put away: Return something to its usual place
• Ex: Arthur put away his car keys and his wallet.
• Put across: Give opinion clearly, explain an idea well, describe articulately
• Ex: I thought Emily put her views across on politics really well during the discussion.
• Here, Rohit and his girlfriend were able to ignore their differences because they loved each other. Hence, Put aside is the right word to be used here.

Correct sentence: Rohit and his girlfriend were able to put aside their differences because they loved each other.

Additional Information

There vs Their

• There: There can be used in a couple of ways. As an adverb, there is the exact opposite of the word here and means “at that place”:
• Ex: He asked me to go there and check on his fish while he’s away.
• Their: 'Their' is the third-person plural possessive pronoun:
• Ex: All of those kids with their contagious laughter really made my day.

The correct answer is Option (3) i.e. there cheek by jowl.

Key Points

• The correct idiomatic expression is 'cheek by jowl’ and not ‘cheek with jowl’.
• Cheek by jowl (Idiom): Positioned very close together. (The cheek and the jowl—the lower part of the jaw—are in close proximity to each other on the face.)
• E.g.: They lived cheek by jowl in a one-room flat.
• Also, There means the opposite of here; “at that place.” Their means “belongs to them.” Thus, there is to be used here.
• Hence ‘there cheek by jowl’ should be used in place of ‘there cheek with jowl/jowling’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Correct sentence*: You couldn't fit a piece of paper in the storage room now—all those boxes are stacked in there cheek by jowl.*

The correct answer is Understanding consumer.

Key Points

• In the given sentence, the emboldened part Having understood consumer is grammatically incorrect.
• In the given sentence, the participle Having understood has been used as a subject**, which is incorrect.** Also, the given sentence is in the simple present tense.
• The verb understand must be written as a  gerund, in its -ing form because it is a verb that is functioning as a noun in this sentence.
• So, Understanding consumer is the correct answer. 

So, the correct sentence is, Understanding consumer behaviour is a crucial aspect of today’s market, especially for effective marketing and branding of the products.

Additional Information

• A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions the same as a noun.
• For example, Running is fun. In this sentence, running is the gerund. It acts just like a noun.
• understood is the past tense of the verb 'understand'.

The correct answer is 1 i.e. B-C

Key Points

• befallen: past participle of verb befall which means something bad happened to someone
• great is an adjective therefore it cannot be followed by a verb
• Because adjectives do not modify verbs
• danger: the possibility of something unwelcome or unpleasant happening which can cause harm or injury
• Therefore, B and C should be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct
• encounter: an unexpected or casual meeting with someone or something.
• landing: an instance of coming or bringing something to land, either from the air or from water.

Therefore, the correct sentence is,

Our encounter with the shark was the first great danger that had befallen us since landing on this island​

The correct option is 3 i.e. A-D

Key Points

We can look at the sentence in the following way:

The king ________ (A) his men to ________ (B) the demon, and to________ (C) it to the ________ (D)

• palace:  a grand residence, especially a royal residence
• 'palace' is a noun that is incorrectly used after the subject of the sentence 'king'
• The phrase 'king palace his men' does not make any sense contextually
• Instead, 'The king ordered his men' is a correct phrase
• Therefore A and D should be interchanged
• ordered: 

give authoritative instruction to do something.

• catch: capture a person or animal that tries or would try to escape

.

• bring: take or go with someone or something to a place.

​

Therefore, the correct sentence will be,

The king ordered his men to catch the demon and to bring it to the palace

Important Points

When solving such a question always read it first and try to understand the contextual meaning. In this sentence, we know that the King is someone who gives orders. From this, we can immediately understand that after king ordered will be the verb that should be used.

The correct answer is option 5 i.e. No Rearrangement.

Explanation

Let us find the meanings of some of the given words:

• spent(adjective): having no power or energy left.
• Shopping(noun): the action or activity of buying goods from shops.
• Wanted(verb): had the desire to possess or do (something); wished for.
• Sleep(noun): doze; rest.

The sentence has no errors and thus requires no rearrangement as all words have been used appropriately.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. A-B

We can look at the sentence in the following way:

The man who _______(A) his soul to the devil in ________(B) for ________(C) and unending youth ended up _________(D) a very lonely life. 

Explanation:

• Exchange: The act of giving someone something and receiving something in return. One cannot 'exchange to' somebody, one has to 'exchange with' somebody as it is 2-way system and involved more that one person's participation. We have to replace 'exchange' with a verb in the past tense.
• Sold: Past tense of 'sell' which means 'to give or hand over something to someone in exchange of money(or something materialistic)'. The phrase "in sold for immortality" is grammatically incorrect.
• Immortality: An ability to live forever; eternal life.
• Spending: Present participle of 'spend' which means 'to pay for goods and services'. 

Thus, we need to interchange A and B in order to make the sentence contextually correct. 

Correct Sentence: The man who sold (A) his soul to the devil in exchange (B) for immortality (C) and unending youth ended up spending (D) a very lonely life.