Questions

In the following passage some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

Modern man is imprisoned by his time-table and his routine. His life is all care and _____. He does not have _____ for anything but his duties and occupation for _____ money. Men, in all _____ may have been prone to this disease and; indeed, we in India may not have been _____ by it to the extent that people in western countries have been.

we in India may not have been _____ by it to the extent that people in western countries have been.

In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.

Curtail

A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

Due to poor rainfall over the past few months, the vadu mangai season is expected to be short this year. There are two distinct varieties available in the vicinity of Coimbatore. The closest to Coimbatore, and the one that appears in the markets first, is the Thadagam variety. The second and more popular variety is the one from the Thirumoorthy Hills, near Udumalpet. Representatives from commercial pickle brands whisk these mangais away in big lots directly from the wholesalers. Only a small portion of the year's harvest trickles down to the local markets. Small vendors bring sacks full of these tiny tender mangoes to one particular street corner in Ram Nagar during the season. The corner of Rajaji Road and Sathyamurthy Road plays host to these vendors from as early as 7.00 am every day. Depending on the quantity they have, the mangais are available until around 11.00 am. If the vendors have a good day and their produce is sold quickly, they pack up and leave even as early as 9.00 am.

Why do local markets get only a small portion of the mango produce?

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

barking up the wrong tree

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best substitute of the words/sentence.

Concern for one's own area or region at the expense of national or supranational unity

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

To avoid the various foolish opinions to which mankind are prone, no superhuman brain is required. A few simple rules will keep you free, not from all errors, but from silly errors. If the matter is one that can be settled by observation, make the observation yourself. Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs. Aristotle to keep her mouth open while he counted. Thinking that you know when in fact you do not is a bad mistake, to which we are all prone. I believe myself that hedgehogs eat black beetles, because I have been told that they do; but if I were writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs, I should not commit myself until I had seen one enjoying this diet. Aristotle, however, was less cautious. Ancient and medieval writers knew all about unicorns and salamanders; not one of them thought it necessary to avoid dogmatic statements about them because he had never seen one of them.

According to the author, unicorns and salamanders

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best substitute of the phrase.

to allay the sorrow or grief

When the offices of the President and Vice­President fall vacant simultaneously, who acts as President?