General Knowledge Questions

Q:

A passage with three blanks, followed by five options, each containing one word, is given. Choose the word that can fill all the three blanks.
The ability of humans to ___________ the landscape and recognize the consequences of doing so puts us in a peculiar position. There are several animals on earth that show this same kind of intelligence. Some animals have extensions to ___________ their environment and some do not. As a species we are assigned the duty to provide and proliferate. Our goal is to achieve stability for ourselves and our kin. However, we also have an obligation to maintain the environment, as we depend on the resources and services it provides. The question then becomes:
what is our role in nature? Do we have the right to _________ the land, factory farm animals, and pollute waterways? Or do we have an obligation to reduce our numbers and merely subsist? In order to answer these questions, we must rely on our knowledge of Earth, evolution, and our influence on the environment.

A) Aspects B) Pollutants
C) Employ D) Operate
 
Answer & Explanation Answer:

Explanation:

‘Aspects’ mean a particular part or feature of something. ‘Pollutants’ mean a substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere. ‘Employ’ means give work to (someone) and pay them for it. ‘Operate’ means (of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system). ‘Manipulate’ means control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly or unscrupulously. The passage hints towards unscrupulous usage of the environment for our own betterment. Thus, option E is the best fit answer for the given blanks.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 659
Q:

A passage with three blanks, followed by five options, each containing one word, is given. Choose the word that can fill all the three blanks.
Emission ____________ are the legal requirements governing air pollutants released into the atmosphere. Emission ___________ set quantitative limits on the permissible amount of specific air pollutants that may be released from specific sources over specific timeframes. They are generally designed to achieve air quality standards and to protect human life. Many emissions ____________ focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles (motor cars) and other powered vehicles. Others regulate emissions from industry, power plants, small equipment such as lawn mowers and diesel generators, and other sources of air pollution. While this have been used to dictate limits for conventional pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur (NOx and SOx), this regulatory technique may be used to regulate greenhouse gasses, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). In the US, this is given in pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour (lbs. CO2/MWhr), and kilograms CO2/MWhr elsewhere.

A) Norms B) Pollutants
C) Factors D) Standards
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: D) Standards

Explanation:

From the given passage it is evident that we have to take the word filling the blanks in relation to the word ‘emission’ which means the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation. ‘Norms’ refer to a standard or pattern, especially of social behaviour, that is typical or expected. Thus ‘emission norms’ cannot be a correct term as it is not related social behaviour. ‘Pollutants’ mean a substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere. If this word is used in the given first blank it does not provide the correct term being defined. ‘Factors’ refer to a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result. ‘Standards’ refer to a required or agreed level of quality or attainment. ‘Limits’ means a restriction on the size or amount of something permissible or possible. Of all the given options ‘factors’ and ‘standards’ can be seen as the most appropriate words for the given blanks. But an emission factor is a representative value that attempts to relate the quantity of a pollutant released to the atmosphere with an activity associated with the release of that pollutant. Thus, option D is the best fit answer for the given blanks 

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 609
Q:

A passage with three blanks, followed by five options, each containing one word, is given. Choose the word that can fill all the three blanks.
In finance, a __________ is an instrument of indebtedness of the issuer to the holders. The ___________ is a debt security, under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to pay them interest (the coupon) or to repay the principal at a later date, termed the maturity date. Interest is usually payable at fixed intervals (semi- annual, annual, sometimes monthly). Very often it is negotiable, that is, the ownership of the instrument can be transferred in the secondary market. This means that once the transfer agents at the bank medallion stamp the same, it is highly liquid on the secondary market. Thus, a __________ is a form of loan or IOU.

A) Brand B) Stock
C) Bond D) Barter
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: C) Bond

Explanation:

‘Brand’ refers to a particular identity or image regarded as an asset. ‘Stock’ refers to the capital raised by a company or corporation through the issue and subscription of shares. ‘Bond’ is an interest-bearing security issued by governments, companies and some other organisations. ‘Barter’ refers to exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money. ‘Bankruptcy’ means the state of being bankrupt. The given blanks can either use ‘bond’ or ‘stock’ as both are similar in meaning. Bonds and stocks are both securities, but the major difference between the two is that (capital) stockholders have an equity stake in a company (that is, they are owners), whereas bondholders have a creditor stake in the company (that is, they are lenders). Being a creditor, bondholders have priority over stockholders. Thus, ‘bond’ is the best fit word for the given blanks as it is clearly stated that it is a form of loan. This makes option 3 the correct answer.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 594
Q:

A passage with three blanks, followed by five options, each containing one word, is given. Choose the word that can fill all the three blanks.
An __________ is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder. Participants bid openly against one another, with each subsequent bid required to be higher than the previous bid. An auctioneer may announce prices, bidders may call out their bids themselves (or have a proxy call out a bid on their behalf), or bids may be submitted electronically with the highest current bid publicly displayed. In a Dutch ____________, the auctioneer begins with a high asking price for some quantity of like items; the price is lowered until a participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's price for some quantity of the goods in the lot or until the seller's reserve price is met. In economic theory, an ____________ may refer to any mechanism or set of trading rules for exchange.

A) Assets B) Auction
C) Autarky D) Arbitrage
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) Auction

Explanation:

‘Assets’ mean things that have earning power or some other value to their owner. ‘Auction’ means a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder. ‘Autarky’ refers to the idea that a country should be self-sufficient and not take part in international trade. ‘Arbitrage’ means the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset. ‘Amortisation’ means the running down or payment of a loan by instalments. The given passage includes the presence of an ‘auctioneer’ who is defined as a person who conducts auctions by accepting bids and declaring goods sold. Thus, option 2 is the correct fit for all three blanks.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 695
Q:

In the question given below, three paragraphs are given, which are jumbled. Find the correct sequence of these paragraphs so that they form a meaningful passage.
A. The power of compounding works the way it does because you are reinvesting the interest that you earn back into the instrument, besides giving it time to grow. Let’s simplify it further. Say in the first year you invest ₹100 and you get 10% annual return of ₹10. Next year, along with ₹110 (the first year principal amount and the interest amount), you will put another ₹100. The ₹10 you earned as interest gets reinvested, helping you grow your money faster.

B. To get a perspective, let’s turn to some numbers. Say you started investing ₹3,000 a month when you were 25, and go on till you are 60. At an average annual rate of 7% returns, your corpus will grow to ₹53.24 lakh. If you decide to start investing at the age of 35 years, even if you put aside double the amount— ₹6,000 per month — till the age of 60, the value of your corpus will be only ₹48.72 lakh. The example shows that you would need half the amount to get more in returns if you start investing early.
C. Adulting can’t wait when it comes to savings and investing. Why you may ask? If you delay your investments, how will you see the magic of compounding? When it comes to investing, you need to start early. In fact, you should start saving and investing as soon as you start earning. Compounding allows you to build a bigger corpus with a smaller amount.

A) BAC B) CAB
C) BCA D) ABC
 
Answer & Explanation Answer:

Explanation:

The correct sequence is CBA.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 606
Q:

In the question given below, three paragraphs are given, which are jumbled. Find the correct sequence of these paragraphs so that they form a meaningful passage.
A. Climate change is warming the ocean, but it’s warming land faster and that’s really bad news for air quality all over the world, says a new University of California, Riverside study. The study, published February 4 in Nature Climate Change, shows that the contrast in warming between the continents and sea, called the land-sea warming contrast, drives an increased concentration of aerosols in the atmosphere that cause air pollution. Aerosols affect the climate system, including disturbances to the water cycle, as well as human health. They also cause smog and other kinds of air pollution that can lead to health problems for people, animals, and plants.
B. To determine this, the researchers ran simulations of climate change under two scenarios. The first assumed a business-as-usual warming model, in which warming proceeds at a constant, upward rate. The second model probed a scenario in which the land warmed less than expected. In the business-as-usual scenario, enhanced land warming increased continental aridity and, subsequently, the concentration of aerosols that leads to more air pollution.
C. A robust response to an increase in greenhouse gases is that the land is going to warm faster than the ocean. This enhanced land warming is also associated with increased continental
aridity. The increase in aridity leads to decreased low cloud cover and less rain, which is the main way that aerosols are removed from the atmosphere.

A) ACB B) BCA
C) BAC D) CAB
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) ACB

Explanation:

The correct sequence is ACB.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 590
Q:

In the following question, a short passage with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank is given. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent (coherent means logically complete and sound).
There is a fairly universal sentiment that the use of nuclear weapons is clearly contrary to mortality and that its production probably so, does not go far enough. These activities are not only opposed to mortality but also to the law. If the legal objection can be added to the moral, the argument against the use and manufacture of these weapons will considerably be reinforced. Now the time is ripe to evaluate the responsibility of scientists who knowingly use their expertise for the construction of such weapons, which has a deleterious effect on mankind.
How appropriate it is that all this valuable skill should be devoted to the manufacture of weapons of death in a world of poverty is a question that must touch the scientific conscience.

A) Almost 50% of the skilled scientific manpower in the world is now engaged in the armaments industry. B) To think that majority of the scientists are promoting the manufacturing of the armaments is hurtful.
C) Scientists should use their conscience before taking up these contracts to manufacture the weapons of mass destruction. D) Scientific manpower is used to the interests of some selfish and careless people who want to threaten the existence of homo-sapiens.
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) Almost 50% of the skilled scientific manpower in the world is now engaged in the armaments industry.

Explanation:

Choice 1 is correct as it matches with the flow of the passage. The whole paragraph is about the devastating effects that nuclear weapons have due to certain curtailments on part of the
scientists in the moral and the conscience aspect. It is only logical to mention an argument to support the next statement. It also keeps up with the tone and general
subject of the passage.
Option 2 is a bad choice as it talks about absolutely nothing and is too naïve. Therefore is incorrect as it is beyond the general theme.
Option 3 is incorrect as it obviously does not go with the flow of the Para.
As for option 4, it is incorrect as the statement is illogical.
As for 5, neither does it logically follow the previous sentence nor is it related to the anything in the next sentence.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: TOEFL , GRE , CAT

0 682
Q:

Read the following passage and complete the paragraph with the help of correct options given below.
Working overseas is always a challenge for any professional and if you are an Indian, always strive to give-your best as Indians have always been considered intelligent, hardworking, talented and spiritual.
Working overseas was something many Indians desired but few achieved until the information technology boom opened several white-collar job opportunities for them in global markets. However, securing employment abroad may be an achievement but retaining it is quite a challenge as a professional requires constant demonstration of professionalism and exact the standards of competence.

A) Indians have always excelled in a competitive working environment. B) This makes them more enjoyable company.
C) Indians have always tried to bring out their best in competitive working environment. D) Indians are hard-working, competitive and professional employees.
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) Indians have always excelled in a competitive working environment.

Explanation:

Choice A is correct as it matches with the flow after a statement praising the professionalism of Indians, it is only logical to mention their excellence of working in a competitive environment. It also keeps up with the tone and general subject of the passage. Option 2 is a bad choice as it talks about being in their company which is not relevant in the context of the paragraph and therefore is incorrect as it is beyond the general theme. Option 3 is overall correct but we as we have to choose the best option so we have to cancel out on 3. Option 4 is obviously a lengthy reproduction of the sentence preceding the blank. As for option 5, it is incorrect as the statement does not keep up with the flow of the paragraph. Neither does it logically follow the previous sentence nor is it related to the next sentence.

Report Error

View Answer Report Error Discuss

Filed Under: English
Exam Prep: CAT , GRE , TOEFL

0 666