Directions (1-7): Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks with the suitable option.
Even in the early 1960s, when there were no mobile phones, no computers and no internet, Sarabhai was globally ________ (1). He could lift a phone and call anyone who ________ (2). It, of course, helped that he came from a very wealthy and ________ (3) family of businessmen and freedom fighters. The Sarabhais played host to Rabinranath Tagore, and Mahatma Gandhi was a personal friend.
In 1961, Vikram got equipment from NASA to ________ (4) telemetry signals from the American satellite Explorer II. He thus became the first Indian to receive live signals from a satellite.
When Sarabhai, with support from his mentor Homi Bhabha, approached Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with a ________ (5) to launch a space programme, the situation in the country was grim. No one had any experience in any branch of space technology (space science was a different matter). There was no relevant industrial infrastructure; people and policymakers were equally ________ (6) about the practical benefits of space technology. The general mood of the people was one of despair, caused by food shortages and a ________ (7) border clash with China.
Q1.
(a) Barred
(b) Vindicated
(c) Formidable
(d) Networked
(e) Blatant
Q2.
(a) Mattered
(b) Induced
(c) Enervated
(d) Scurried
(e) Assuaged
Q3.
(a) Imminent
(b) Tardy
(c) Cultured
(d) Dismayed
(e) Scathed
Q4.
(a) Wary
(b) Receive
(c) Trenchant
(d) Deter
(e) Incline
Q5.
(a) Viable
(b) Explicable
(c) Inception
(d) Misbelief
(e) Proposal
Q6.
(a) Sceptical
(b) Scarcely
(c) Oppressive
(d) Augmentative
(e) Equitable
Q7.
(a) Confronting
(b) Execrating
(c) Poising
(d) Humiliating
(e) Pursuing
Directions (8-15): Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks with the suitable option.
Veblen argued that wealthy individuals often ________ (8) highly conspicuous goods and services in order to advertise their wealth, thereby achieving greater social status.
According to Veblen, “In order to gain and to hold the esteem of (wo)men, wealth must be put in evidence, for esteem is awarded only on evidence”. By social custom, the evidence consists of ________ (9) costly goods that fall into “accredited canons of conspicuous consumption, the effect of which is to hold the consumer up to a standard of expensiveness and wastefulness in his consumption of goods and his employment of time and effort”.
The details of Veblen’s arguments naturally invite the ________ (10) that conspicuous consumption reflects useful signalling for explaining the behaviour of the leisure class or elite in a given economy. The need to conspicuously consume luxury goods may increase more in deeply unequal societies where the wealth/income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% is ________ (11).
Veblen’s work ________ (12) between two motives for consuming conspicuous goods: “invidious comparison” and “pecuniary emulation.”
‘Invidious comparison’ refers to situations in which a member of a higher class consumes conspicuously to distinguish himself from members of a lower class. While ‘pecuniary emulation’ occurs when a member of a lower class consumes conspicuously so that he will be ________ (13) of as a member of a higher class.
In modern terms, these motives are the ________ (14) of what explains elite-consumption behaviour amongst both upper and lower classes (including in India). Members of higher classes voluntarily ________ (15) costs to differentiate themselves from members of lower classes (invidious comparison), knowing that these costs must be large enough to discourage imitation (pecuniary emulation).
Q8.
(a) Consume
(b) Menace
(c) Requisite
(d) Inevitable
(e) Ostracise
Q9.
(a) Sporadic
(b) Fairly
(c) Unduly
(d) Dreadful
(e) Credibility
Q10.
(a) Ally
(b) Fervent
(c) Interpretation
(d) Whittle
(e) Radical
Q11.
(a) Mount
(b) Patent
(c) Stark
(d) Disconcerted
(e) Equilibrium
Q12.
(a) Incursion
(b) Neutralized
(c) Differential
(d) Reinforced
(e) Distinguished
Q13.
(a) Recurrent
(b) Retreat
(c) Under-pinned
(d) Thought
(e) Stringent
Q14.
(a) Undying
(b) Stockpile
(c)Essence
(d) Spur
(e) Levy
Q15.
(a) Slender
(b) Ridicule
(c) Abolish
(d) Exquisite
(e) Incur
Solutions
S1. Ans. (d)
Sol. Barred: closed or secured with a long rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material.
Vindicated: clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.
Formidable: inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
Networked: interact with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
Blatant: (of bad behaviour) done openly and unashamedly.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. Mattered: be important or significant.
Induced: succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something.
Enervated: drained of energy or vitality.
Scurried: (of a person or small animal) move hurriedly with short quick steps.
Assuaged: make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. Imminent: about to happen.
Tardy: delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late.
Cultured: characterized by refined taste and manners and good education.
Dismayed: cause (someone) to feel concern and distress.
Scathed: harm; injure.
S4. Ans. (b)
Sol. Wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Receive: be given, presented with, or paid (something).
Trenchant: vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
Deter: discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
Incline: be favourably disposed towards or willing to do something.
S5. Ans. (e)
Sol. Viable: capable of working successfully; feasible.
Explicable: able to be accounted for or understood.
Inception: the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.
Misbelief: a wrong or false belief or opinion.
Proposal: a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration by others.
S6. Ans. (a)
Sol. Sceptical: not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
Scarcely: only just; almost not.
Oppressive: inflicting harsh and authoritarian treatment.
Augmentative: (of an affix or derived word) reinforcing the idea of the original word, especially by meaning ‘a large one of its kind’,
Equitable: fair and impartial.
S7. Ans. (d)
Sol. Confronting: come face to face with (someone) with hostile or argumentative intent.
Execrating: feel or express great loathing for.
Poising: be or cause to be balanced or suspended.
Humiliating: making someone feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and pride.
Pursuing: follow or chase (someone or something).
S8. Ans. (a)
Sol. Consume: use up (a resource).
Menace: a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger.
Requisite: made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations.
Inevitable: certain to happen; unavoidable.
Ostracise: exclude from a society or group.
S9. Ans. (c)
Sol. Sporadic: occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.
Fairly: with justice.
Unduly: to an unwarranted degree; inordinately.
Dreadful: causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious.
Credibility: the quality of being trusted and believed in.
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. Ally: a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.
Fervent: having or displaying a passionate intensity.
Interpretation: the action of explaining the meaning of something.
Whittle: reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual series of steps.
Radical: (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
S11. Ans. (c)
Sol. Mount: climb up (stairs, a hill, or other rising surface).
Patent: easily recognizable; obvious.
Stark: severe or bare in appearance or outline.
Disconcerted: unsettled or confused.
Equilibrium: a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.
S12. Ans. (e)
Sol. Incursion: an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one.
Neutralized: make (something) ineffective by applying an opposite force or effect.
Differential: of, showing, or depending on a difference; varying according to circumstances or relevant factors.
Reinforced: strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material.
Distinguished: recognize or point out a difference.
S13. Ans. (d)
Sol. Recurrent: occurring often or repeatedly.
Retreat: (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.
Under-pinned: to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something
Thought: the action or process of thinking.
Stringent: (of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting.
S14. Ans. (c)
Sol. Undying: (especially of an emotion) lasting forever.
Stockpile: a large accumulated stock of goods or materials, especially one held in reserve for use at a time of shortage or another emergency.
Essence: the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character.
Spur: a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive.
Levy: impose (a tax, fee, or fine).
S15. Ans. (e)
Sol. Slender: (of a person or part of the body) gracefully thin.
Ridicule: the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour.
Abolish: formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution).
Exquisite: extremely beautiful and delicate.
Incur: become subject to (something unwelcome or unpleasant) as a result of one’s own behaviour or actions.
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