1. C


The reviewer was scathing (biting), bitter (sharp, destructive) and irritating (annoying). He was not constructive or helpful. Never shows a contrast. The missing word must be an antonym or a near-antonym for the three adjectives in the series.

Note that you are searching for a word with positive associations. So, you can scrap any word with negative ones. Choices D and E have negative associations. Only Choices A, B or C can be correct. Choice C is preferable.

2. E


If trucks are the only means of transport, then there can be no public transportation. The word nonexistent  best completes the sentence .

3. A


If we cannot be decisive as to whether low-level microwave radiation is dangerous or safe, our evidence must be too weak for us to be able to decide; it must be inconclusive. Remember, before you look at the choices, read the sentence and think of a word that makes sense. The likely words are incomplete, lacking, inadequate.

4. B


Flamboyant means ornate or showy. And "liberal"is used to describe political views, not fashion, though conservative can be used in both contexts.
5. D

  6.   C

Indian art recalls (is reminiscent of) Japanese art because, like Japanese art, it minimizes; it understates. The clause following "Japanese art" gives examples of what Japanese art is like: it suggests; it does not state directly or overstate. Look at the first word of each answer pair. If the first word means states directly or overstates, then the second word must mean "is unlike", because it is unlike Japanese art to overstate. If the first word means suggests or understates, then the second word must mean "is like", because it is like Japanese art to understate.

  7.   D

If irony has become a way of escape, then its job is to help people escape or evade life’s terrors. Note that the second clause defines what is meant by irony as a mode of escape.

It clarifies the meaning of the phrase.

  8.  D

The negotiations have degenerated or deteriorated; they have become acrimonious or bitter. The phrase following the blank gives an example of what the sessions are like. They have degenerated into a volley of accusations. You are looking for a word with negative associations. Therefore, you can eliminate any word with positive ones.

Choices A, C and E all have positive associations. Only choice B or choice D can be correct. Choice C insouciant (carefree and untroubled) is an inappropriate word to describe a wild turmoil of accusations. By process of elimination, the correct answer must be acrimonious, Choice D.

  9.   A

One is unlikely to gain admission to a top college with an academic record that is mediocre (Merely ordinary).

  10. C

An album is a book designed to keep a collection of stamps. A wardrobe is a locker designed to keep a collection of clothes.

  11. B

A landslide is a sudden great or overwhelming rush of earth. A deluge is a sudden great or overwhelming rush of water. The "rush" is always down, otherwise the answer could be current: air, but an overwhelming rush of air can rise or fall with an air current.

  12.  C

A carpenter  constructs a cabinet just as a cobbler  constructs s a boot.

  13.  B

To wriggle or fidget is to show discomfort (mental or physical uneasiness). To fume or seethe is to show anger.

  14.  E

Someone frank (candid, outspoken in speech) lacks reticence (reserve restraint in speaking). Someone pitiless lacks sympathy.

  15.   D

Impartiality is characterized by a lack of bias (prejudice)., Similarly, disagreement is characterized by concord (harmony)

  16.   B

The entire passage indulges in explaining the ways in which the United States has embraced immigrants from different parts of the world. Hence the choice is right.

A. Incorrect. Because immigration has its darker side as well.
E. Incorrect even though it has a message.
C & D Incorrect. They may sound related because of the words immigrants and hodgepodge (jumble) respectively, but they do not justify themselves.

  17.  C

It is evident in the first paragraph itself that more than anything else it was the economic motive which lured the immigrants.

  18.   E

Famine indicates lack of food which in turn speaks of hunger. Potato being the staple food of the Irish, not all of them could survive starvation. So they fled to the land of opportunities.

A & C Incorrect. Not supported by the passage.
B & D Incorrect. Not true.

  19.  B

In the 3rd paragraph The Periods of Immigration are clearly stated.

  20.   D

People who came in earlier naturally felt threatened that the newcomers would snatch away their piece of bread. This insecurity led them to look down upon the current immigrants.

A. Incorrect. The Klu Klux Klan came into being in the early 20th century and was a group of people perpetrating atrocities against another.
B & E Incorrect. Cannot be possible since, being poor, the new immigrants were destined to work as servants and the earlier settlers had already created a base.
C. Incorrect. Flimsy (baseless) reason.

  21.   E

The word is in quotes. This indicates the meaning is implied. Here, it points to the settled immigrants.

A, B & C Incorrect. The words could mean natives but the passage does not mention anything about them at all.
D. Incorrect. The natives may not necessarily be man eaters.

  22.   D

The sentences "About 2 billion ... power" and "... nearly 2 billion ... treatment" in the first paragraph neatly answers the question.

A & B Incorrect. The paragraph does not relate any such thing.
C. Incorrect. Because there is mention of a total of 6.0 billion people.
E. Incorrect. Because villagers, in the first place, would not know anything about a laptop.

  23.   C

Haves and the have-nots means the rich and the poor as hoi-polloi describes the masses (common people). Hence this is the right choice.

Choices A, B & D don’t come into the picture since the ’s’ makes the difference in the word ’haves’.
E. Incorrect. It is out of context.

  24.   A

The second paragraph tells us about how technology helps broaden the difference between the rich and the poor. And Mr. Speth informs us how in the last 30 years the gap has broadened.

B. Incorrect. As the passage only says that technological change in a country is directly proportional to its economic development.
C. Incorrect. Because it is the gap between the rich and poor people which is talked about ----- not countries.
D & E Incorrect.

  25.   C

The answer can be found in the second paragraph in the sentence "The challenge ... environment."

A. Incorrect. It is just the opposite of what the author says.
B. Incorrect. It is not the right choice as these wonders have not done any good to the poor as yet.
D. Incorrect. It is a ridiculous proposition.
E. Incorrect. It is somewhere near the right choice but it is not the masses who are trying to get an access; it is the experts who are searching for a way to make things available relatively cheap to the poor.

  26.   D

It is definitely the author’s concern that has made him reach out far and propose strategies for the cause.

A. Incorrect. The author is serious but not angry.
B. Incorrect.
C. Incorrect. He is quite analytical and, so cannot be described as convoluted.
E. Incorrect.

  27.   B

It is evident from the fifth paragraph. There is a possibility of mental retardation for lack of iodine. Usage of iodized salt in poor countries can improve the situation.

A. Incorrect. Because it is only with the help of modern technology that ancient wisdom can bear fruit in agriculture."Alone" is the keyword that makes "A" an incorrect answer.
C. Incorrect. UNICEF is not particularly a watchdog (sentinel/ supervisor / overseer) for iodized salt.
D. Incorrect. Nothing about getting rid of fossil fuel is talked of.
E. Incorrect. Guatemala farmers are learning Israeli methods of irrigation, but more importantly, this is not an inference, it is taken directly from the text.

  28.   E

To forswear is to forgo, abandon, denounce.

  29.   D

Here he talks about the "alternative" sources which are making a headway in developing countries. This is, of course, optimistic.

A, B & E Incorrect. The paragraphs / lines mentioned in these choices talk of various things - not only the author’s optimism.
C. Incorrect. Mentions both the second and the sixth paragraphs.

  30.   B

Solar and wind power is relatively cheap and as such, they can be used in the poorer and developing countries to spread technology to the masses.

A. Incorrect. Mentions (i) and (iii). No new project of UNICEF is mentioned here.
C. Incorrect. Nothing has been said about the main sources of agriculture.
D & E Incorrect.

[next page]

Index

Test 1
Section 1 : Verbal Reasoning
Section 2 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 3 : Verbal Reasoning
Section 4 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 5 : Reading Comprehension
Section 6 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 7 : Mathematical Reasoning
Answer Key To Test 1

Answer Explanation To Test 1
Section 1 : Verbal Reasoning
Section 2 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 3 : Verbal Reasoning
Section 4 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 5 : Reading Comprehension
Section 6 : Mathematical Reasoning
Section 7 : Mathematical Reasoning

Test 2