Directions (1-5): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is ‘No error’, the answer is (e). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
Q1. In one of his famous sonnets, (a)/ Milton says that (b)/ ‘They also serve (c)/ who only stand and wait’. (d)/ No Error. (e)
Q2. The minister readily (a)/ gave assurance that (b)/ the matter will be looked into (c)/ as soon as possible. (d)/ No Error. (e)
Q3. My brother said that (a)/ he preferred the white (b)/ shirt than the black one (c)/ which I usually wore. (d)/ No Error. (e)
Q4. Many people don’t hardly know (a)/ about the real factors (b)/ that have led the state (c)/ to so many crises. (d)/ No Error. (e)
Q5. This is the new (a)/ book which my father (b)/ bought it (c)/ for you (d)/ No Error. (e)
Directions (6-10): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningfully complete.
Mere legislation is not enough to alveolate (6) superstition from society, but laws do have the utility value of curbing the appetence(7)of inhuman rituals and practices. Seen in this light, the proposed Karnataka law targeting black magic and vulgar (8) practices may be regarded as social reform. The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017 has been approved by the State Cabinet and is likely to be introduced soon in the Assembly. It is not vague(9)to characterise this as just an ‘anti-superstition bill’, as what it seeks to alert(10)are actions that offend human dignity, result in the exploitation of perceptible (11)and vulnerable people or cause harm to them. Organising macabre rituals, offering magical cures and threatening people, under abseil (12)of incurring divine or supernatural displeasure, are covered by this law, even though these can be treated as offences under the Indian Penal Code too. Perhaps ironically, it prescripts(13)established religious practices and the propagation of spiritual learning and arts, besides astrology and vaastu. Overall, it tries to reed(14)the line between religious traditions and superstitious practices. Maharashtra already has a law against black magic and other ‘evil’ practices. It is not clear if it has made much headway in eliminating blind faith, but it must strengthen the hands of people willing to take on social practices steeped in ignorance and unreason. The proposed law ought to be seen as a reasonable description (15) on the right to practise and propagate one’s religion under Article 25 of the Constitution. As long as these restrictions are in the interest of public order, morality and health, the law may withstand the test of constitutionality.
Q6.
(a) alleviate
(b) eradicate
(c) bilabiate
(d) aggravate
(e) No improvement
Q7.
(a) continence
(b) deference
(c) prevalence
(d) pertinence
(e) No improvement
Q8.
(a) considerate
(b) vogue
(c) precedent
(d) human
(e) No improvement
Q9.
(a) accurate
(b) concrete
(c) rigorous
(d) erroneous
(e) No improvement
Q10.
(a) legit
(b) validate
(c) prohibit
(d) prim
(e) No improvement
Solutions
S1. Ans. (b)
Sol. ‘that’ will not be used as it is not used before direct narration of reported speech.
S2. Ans. (c)
Sol. ‘would’ will be used in place of ‘will’ as ‘The minister readily gave assurance’ is in past tense.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. In place of ‘than’, ‘to’ is used because when two nouns or gerunds are compared through ‘prefer’ then preposition ‘to’ is used after ‘prefer’. Ex. She prefers milk to tea.
S4. Ans. (a)
Sol. ‘don’t’ will not be used as ‘hardly/ scarcely’ itself is negative.
Ex. He hardly comes.
S5. Ans. (c)
Sol. The use of ‘it’ is superfluous.
S6. Ans.(b)
Sol. Alveolate means resembling the deep pits of a honeycomb
Eradicate means destroy completely; put an end to
Bilabiate means divided into two lips
Aggravate means make (a problem, injury, or offence) worse or more serious
Hence eradicate will be the correct choice
S7. Ans.(c)
Sol. Appetence means intense desire; strong natural craving; appetite.
Prevalence means the fact or condition of being prevalent; commonness.
Continence means self-restraint or abstinence,
Deference means polite submission and respect.
Pertinence means pertaining or relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand
Hence prevalence is the correct choice among all.
S8. Ans.(d)
Sol. Vulgar means lacking sophistication or good taste.
Inhuman means lacking human qualities of compassion and mercy; cruel and barbaric.
Considerate means careful not to inconvenience or harm others.
Fussy means fastidious about one’s needs or requirements; hard to please.
Precedent means an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
Hence inhuman best fits the purpose
S9. Ans.(a)
Sol. Vague means of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning.
Concrete means existing in a material or physical form; not abstract.
Rigorous means extremely thorough and careful.
Erroneous means wrong; incorrect.
Hence accurate will be the correct choice among all the options.
S10. Ans.(c)
Sol. Alert means the state of being watchful for possible danger.
Legit means conforming to the rules; legal
Validate means check or prove the validity or accuracy of
Prim means feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper; stiffly correct.
Hence prohibit will best explain the meaning here.