Verbal 8 - Manias and Phobias

The Greek work PHOBIA means fear. 

1. Philopatridomania - preoccupied with extreme home sickness

2. Mythomania - preoccupied with lies

3. Oinomania - preoccupied with wine

4. Gamo mania - preoccupied with marriage

5. Kleptomania - preoccupied with stealing

6. Magalomania - preoccupied with self - greatness

7. Gynecomania - preoccupied with woman

8. Zoo mania - preoccupied with animals

9. Phagomania - preoccupied with eating

10. Pyromania - preoccupied with fire

11. Pluto mania - preoccupied with wealth

The Greek word MANIA means a compulsion or preoccupation for.

1. Thermophobia - fear of heat

2. Pedophobia - fear of children

3. Acrophobia - fear of heights

4. Chronophobia - fear of time

5. Nyctophobia - fear of night

6. Theophobia - fear of God

7. Arachibutryphobia - fear of peanut butter

8. Demophobia - fear of people

9. Entomophobia - fear of insects

10. Egrophobia - fear of work

11. Gerontophobia - fear of old people

12. Necrophobia - fear of corpses

13. Hematophobia - fear of blood

14. Arachnophobia - fear of spiders

15. Triskaidekaphobia - fear of the number thirteen

Logical 15 - Direction Sense

The city K is 30 km to the southeast of Z while Y is 50 km to the northwest of K. Also, H is 38 km to the southeast of Y. L lies in the direct route between Y and K and its distance from H is 14 km. G also lies on this route and is exactly midway between L and Y.

1. A car starting from K at 9 am and running at a constant speed towards Y reaches H at 9.24 am and then reaches G at

(a) 9.18 am 

(b) 10.16 am

(c) 10.36 am 

(d) 10.42 am

2. If M is 1 km to the southeast of L, then it is exactly midway between

(a) H and L 

(b) Y and K

(c) H and Z 

(d) None of these

3. The distance from G to H is

(a) 26 km 

(b) 24 km

(c) 12 km 

(d) 16 km

Solution:

The figure below shows the respective positioning of the cities K, H, L, Z, G and Y.

From the figure we can deduce the answers using the following thinking:

1. The car covers K to H—a distance of 12 kms in 24 minutes according to the figure (starting at 9 am and reaching at 9:24 am). From H to G, the distance is 26 kms. (18 H to Z + 8 Z to G). Since the car has covered 12 kms in 24 minutes, it is obvious that it is taking 2 minutes to cover 1 km. We also know that the speed of the car is constant throughout. Hence, the car would take another 52 minutes to cover the 26 km distance between H to G. This means that the car would reach G at 10:16 am (52 minutes after 9:24 am). Hence, Option (b) is correct.

2. The total distance between Y and K is 50 km (20 km from Y to Z and 30 km from Z to K). If M is 1 km southeast of L, it means that M is 4+1 = 5 km from Z. This would also mean that M is 25 km from Y. Hence, M would be exactly midway between Y and K. Option (b) is correct.

3. G to Z, the distance is 8 km (20 km from Y to Z – 12 km from Y to G). Further, from Z to H the distance is 18 km (from the figure based on the logic that if H is 38 km southeast of Y and Z is 20 km southeast of Y, the distance from Z to H would be 38 – 20). Total distance would be 8 + 18 = 26 km. Option (a) is correct.


These questions are based on the diagram given below showing four persons Amar, Bhushan, Chandu and Dilip stationed at the four corners of a square piece of plot as shown.

4. Amar starts crossing the plot diagonally. After walking half the distance, he turns right (900), walks some distance and turns left. Which direction is A facing now?
(a) Northeast 
(b) North
(c) Northwest 
(d) Southeast

5. From the original position given in the above figure, Amar and Chandu move one side length clockwise and then cross over to the corner diagonally opposite; Bhushan and Dilip move one side length anticlockwise and cross over to the corner diagonally opposite. The original configurations Amar-Bhushan-Chandu-Dilip (ABCD) has now changed to
(a) CBDA 
(b) DCBA
(c) BDAC 
(d) ACBD

6. From the original position, Bhushan and Dilip move one and a half length of sides clockwise and anti-clockwise respectively. Which one of the following statements is now true?
(a) Bhushan and Dilip are both at the midpoints between Amar and Chandu.
(b) Bhushan is at the midpoint between Amar and Chandu, and Dilip is at the corner originally
occupied by Amar.
(c) Dilip is closer to Amar than he is to Chandu and Bhushan is closer to Chandu than he is to
Amar.
(d) Dilip is closer to Chandu than he is to Amar and Bhushan is closer to Amar than he is to
Chandu.

7. From the positions in the original figure, Bhushan and Amar move diagonally to opposite corners and then one side each clockwise and anticlockwise respectively. Chandu and Dilip move three sides each anticlockwise and clockwise respectively. Where is Amar now?
(a) At the northwest corner
(b) At the southeast corner
(c) At the northeast corner
(d) At the southwest corner

8. After the movements given in the above questions, who is at the northwest comer?
(a) Amar 
(b) Chandu
(c) Bhushan 
(d) Dilip

9. A road network has parallel and perpendicular roads running northsouth or eastwest only. Junctions/Intersections on this road network are marked as A, B, C, D… All roads are at exactly half a kilometer distance from each other. The following is known about junctions A, B, C, H and X. ‘A’ is east of ‘B’ and west of ‘C’, ‘H’ is southwest of ‘C’ and southeast of B. ‘B’ is southeast of ‘X’. Which junctions are the farthest south and the farthest east?
(a) H, B 
(b) H, C
(c) C, H 
(d) B, H

10. The Suvarna Rekha river flows from west to east and on the way turns left and goes in a quarter circle around a Shiv temple, and then turns left in right-angles. In which direction is the river finally flowing?
(a) North 
(b) South

(c) East
(d) West

Solution:

4. To get to the answer we must assume Amar to be at the point of dissection of the two direction lines. After walking half the distance, Amar will reach the mid of the diagonal, then turn right and face northwest and after that would face the southwest direction when he turns left. (Note that the directions in the figure are different from the usual north, south, east, west directions as the north is in the east position.) Option (d) is correct.

5. Amar would be at Dilip’s position, Chandu would be at Bhushan’s position, Bhushan would be at Chandu’s position and Dilip would be at Amar’s position. Thus, the final positioning would be Dilip-Chandu- Bhushan-Amar. DCBA (Option b) is correct.

6. The final positions would be:

Option (c) can be seen to be correct.

7. Amar would reach Bhushan’s original position as seen in the figure for the final positions. He would be at the southeast corner.

Option (b) is correct.

8. Chandu would be at the northwest corner from the solution figure to the previous question.

9. It can be inferred from the figure below that H is the farthest south and C is the farthest east.

Option (b) is correct.
10. From the given figure it is clear that the river would be flowing north.

Option (a) is correct.


Time to Think:

Jack runs 10 m south from his flat, turns left and walks 23 m, again turns left and walks 40 m, then turns right and walks 5 m to reach his office. In which direction is the office from his house?
(a) East 
(b) Northeast
(c) Southwest 
(d) North

Answers Week 7

Logical 13 - Assertion and Reason

Assertion - In medical parlance with respect to blood groups, a person with a blood group of ‘O’ is called Universal Donor.

Reason - A person with the ‘AB’ blood group can accept blood of all types, i.e., A, B, AB and O.

Both A and R are true, but R is not the reason for A.
Hence, option (b) is correct.

Logical 14 - Mathematical Operations

If ‘*’ indicates either ‘+’ or ‘*’, solve the following questions.

What is the maximum value of

1*2*3*4*5*6*7

(a) 5040 

(b) 5041

(c) 7!/2 

(d) none of these

The maximum value will be obtained when we use multiplication between 2 to 7 and addition between 1 and 2.
1 + 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 * 7 = 5041
Hence, the answer is (b).

What is the minimum value of

1*2*3*4

(a) 10 

(b) 9

(c) 11 

(d) 14

The minimum value will be got if we use a multiplication between 1 and 2 and addition between 2, 3, and 4.
The value will be 1 * 2 + 3 + 4 = 9.
Hence, the answer is (b).


Quants  14 - Alligation

Two vessels A and B contain spirit and water mixed in the ratio 5 : 2 and 7 : 6 respectively. Find the ratio in which these mixtures be mixed to get a new mixture in vessel C containing spirit and water in the ratio 8 : 5?

Let the CP of Spirit be Re. 1.
Spirit in 1 litre mixture of A = 5 / ( 5 + 2 ) = 5 / 7 = Re . 5 / 7
Spirit in 1 litre mixture of B = 7 / 13 = Re . 7 / 13

Spirit in 1 litre mixture of C = 8 / 13 = Re . 8 / 13

Required Ratio = 1/13 : 9/91 = 7/91 : 9/91 = 7 : 9

Quants 14 - Alligations

Key Points to Remember:

If the average of the measured quantity was

A1 for group 1 containing n1 elements

A2 for group 2 containing n2 elements

A3 for group 3 containing n3 elements

Ak for group k containing nk elements

We say that the weighted average, Aw is given by:

Aw = (n1A1 + n2 A2 + n3 A3 + ……. + nkAk) / (n1 + n2 + n3 … + nk)

That is, the weighted average

Sum total of all groups / Total number of elements in all groups together

In the case of the situation where just two groups are being mixed, we can write this as:

Aw = (n1A1 + n2 A2 )/(n1 + n2)

Rewriting this equation we get: (n1 + n2) Aw = n1A1 + n2A2

n1(Aw – A1) = n2 (A2 – Aw) or n1/n2 = (A2 – Aw)/(Aw – A1) Æ The alligation equation.

The Alligation Situation

Two groups of elements are mixed together to form a third group containing the elements of both the  groups.

If the average of the first group is A1 and the number of elements is n1 and the average of the second group is A2 and the number of elements is n2, then to find the average of the new group formed, we can use either the weighted average equation or the alligation equation.

As a convenient convention, we take A1 < A2. Then, by the principal of averages, we get A1 < Aw < A2.

Graphical Representation of Alligation

The formula illustrated above can be represented by the following cross diagram:

As we have seen, there are five variables embedded inside the alligation equation. 

These being: the three averages Æ A1, A2 and Aw and the two weightsÆ n1 and n2 

Based on the problem situation, one of the following cases may occur with respect to the knowns and the unknown, in the problem.

Case I

Known

(a) A1, A2, Aw 

(b) A1, A2, Aw, n1 

Unknown

(a) n1 : n2

(b) n2 and n1 : n2

Case II 

Known - A1, A2, n1, n2 

Unknown - Aw

Case III 

Known - A1, Aw, n1, n2 

Unknown - A2

Now, let us try to evaluate the effectiveness of the cross method for each of the three cases illustrated

above:

Case 1: A1, A2, Aw are known; may be one of n1 or n2 is known.

To find: n1 : n2 and n2 if n1 is known OR n1 if n2 is known.

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

On mixing two classes of students having average marks 25 and 40 respectively, the overall average obtained is 30 marks. Find

(a) The ratio of students in the classes

(b) The number of students in the first class if the second class had 30 students.

(a) Hence, solution is 2 : 1.

(b) If the ratio is 2 : 1 and the second class has 30 students, then the first class has 60 students.

Question 2:

4 kg of rice at ` 5 per kg is mixed with 8 kg of rice at ` 6 per kg. Find the average price of the mixture.

The average of 4 kg rice at Rs. 5 and 8 kg rice at Rs. 6 is,

(6 - Aw) : (Aw - 5 ) :: 4 : 8

6 - Aw / Aw - 5 = 4 / 8

2 ( 6 - Aw ) = 1 ( Aw - 5 )

12 - 2Aw = Aw - 5

17 = 3Aw

Aw = 17 / 3 = ` 5.67 

Question 3:

5 kg of rice at ` 6 per kg is mixed with 4 kg of rice to get a mixture costing ` 7 per kg. Find the price of the costlier rice.

The price of the costlier rice can be calculated as,

( x - 7 ) : ( 7 - 6 ) :: 5 : 4

(x - 7 ) / 1 = 5 / 4

4x - 28 = 5

4x = 33

x = 33 / 4 = ` 8.25

Question 4:

How many kgs of wheat costing Rs. 8 per kg must be mixed with 36 kg of rice costing Rs. 5.40 per kg so that 20% gain may be obtained by selling the mixture cost Rs. 7.30 per kg?

SP of 1 kg mixture = 7.20 with 20% gain
CP of 1 kg mixture = 100 / 1120 * 7.20 = Rs. 6

Wheat 1 : Wheat 2 = 60 : 200 = 3 : 10

Let x kg of Wheat 1 be mixed with 36 kg of Wheat 2,

Then 3 / 10 = x / 36

10 x = 108

x = 10.8 kg

Question 5:

The milk and water in two vessels A and B are in the ratio 4:3 and 2:3 respectively. In what ratio, the liquids in both the vessels be mixed to obtain a new mixture in vessel C containing half milk and half water?

Let the CP of milk be Re. 1.
Milk in 1 litre mixture of A = 4 / ( 4 + 3 ) = 4 / 7 = Re. 4 / 7
Milk in 1 litre mixture of B = 2 / 5 = Re . 2 / 5

Milk in 1 litre mixture of C = 1 / 2 = Re . 1 / 2

Required Ratio = 1/10 : 1/14 = 14/140 : 10/140 = 7 : 5

Time to Think:

Two vessels A and B contain spirit and water mixed in the ratio 5 : 2 and 7 : 6 respectively. Find the ratio in which these mixtures be mixed to get a new mixture in vessel C containing spirit and water in the ratio 8 : 5?

Logical 14 - Mathematical Operations

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

If ‘+’ means ‘–’, ‘–’ means ‘/’, ‘/’ means ‘*’, and ‘*’ means ‘+’ then which of the following will be the value of the expression?

32 + 8 / 2 – 3 * 4

Putting the changed signs, the expression can be rewritten as 32 – 8 / 2 * 3 + 4

Using BODMAS rule, we have

= 32 – 4 * 3 + 4

= 32 – 12 + 4 = 24

The value of the expression 32 + 8 / 2 – 3 * 4 is 24.

Question 2:

Which of the following changes would make the given expression correct?

4 + 4 / 4 – 4 * 4 = 4

(a) ‘+’ and ‘/’ 

(b) ‘–’ and ‘*’

(c) ‘+’ and ‘*’ 

(d) both ‘b’ and ‘c’

By making inter-changes given in ‘a’ we get the expression as:

= 4 / 4 + 4 - 4 * 4

= 1 + 4 - 16

= 5 - 16

= -11

(a) is false

By making inter-changes given in ‘b’ we get the expression as:

= 4 + 4 / 4 * 4 - 4

= 4 + 1 * 4 - 4

= 4 + 4 - 4

= 4

(b) is true

By making inter-changes given in ‘c’ we get the expression as:

= 4 * 4 / 4 - 4 + 4

= 4 * 1 - 4 + 4

= 4 - 4 + 4

= 4

(c) is true

Hence, the answer is (d).

Question 3:

If

12 + 2 = 6

27 + 9 = 3

and 15 + 5 = 3

It is clear that + means / here as 12/2 = 6; 27/9 = 3; 15/5 = 3.

Question 4:

Calculate the value of 182 + 13

182 / 13 = 14

Question 5:

Calculate the value of 50 + [50 + 10]

= 50 / (50 / 10)

= 50 / 5

= 10

Question 6:

Calculate (10 + (6 + (3 + (2 + 1))))

= 10 / ( 6 / ( 3 / ( 2 / 1 ) ) ) 

= 10 / (6 / ( 3 / 2 ) )

= 10 / ( 6 / 1.5)

= 10 / 4

= 2.5

If

aAb implies a + b

aMb implies a – b

aPb implies a * b

aQb implies a / b

Question 7:

Which of the following equations is correct?

(a) 30Q10A4P2M2 = 15

(b) 5P2A4Q2P2 = 14

(c) 2Q3B5P6A7 = –5

(d) none of these

By solving (a), we get,

30 / 10 + 4 * 2 - 2 = 3 + 8 - 2 = 9 ≠ 15

By solving (b), we get,

5 * 2 + 4 / 2 * 2 = 10 + 2 * 2 = 10 + 4 = 14

By solving (c), we get, 

As we have an unknown symbol B, it can't be solved. 

Hence, the answer is (b).

Question 8:

Calculate 5A6M3P4Q8

= 5 + 6 - 3 * 4 / 8

= 5 + 6 - 3 * 0.5

= 5 + 6 - 1.5

= 11 - 1.5

= 9.5

Question 9:

Calculate (2A3M4P5)P(5M6P8Q4)

(a) –105 

(b) –120

(c) 120 

(d) none of these

= ( 2 + 3 - 4 * 5 ) * ( 5 - 6 * 8 / 4 )

= ( 5 - 20 ) * ( 5 - 6 * 2 )

= ( -15 ) * ( 5 - 12 )

= -15 * -7

= 105

Hence, the answer is (d).

Time to Think:

If ‘*’ indicates either ‘+’ or ‘*’, solve the following questions.

What is the maximum value of

1*2*3*4*5*6*7

(a) 5040 

(b) 5041

(c) 7!/2 

(d) none of these

What is the minimum value of

1*2*3*4

(a) 10 

(b) 9

(c) 11 

(d) 14

Verbal 7 - Words and Phrases Confused - B

Words in B:

Bail / Bale
You bail the boat and bale the hay.

The expression bail out meanings to abandon a position or situation and bale is a bundle. 

Baited / Bated

Baited usually refers to traps or snares.

When the reference is to someone who is hardly daring to breathe, the correct word is always bated. 

Ball / Bawl
To bawl is to cry out loudly.

Ball is a toy or a plaything.

Bare (uncovered) / Bear (carry; the animal)

Bazaar (market) / Bizarre (weird)

Been / Gone

Been is the past participle of be.

Gone is the past participle of go.

Been is used to describe completed visits, gone does not specify the return or completion of the visit.

Bemuse / Amuse

When you bemuse someone, you confuse them and not necessarily in an entertaining way.

Amuse is in positive sense.

Benefactor / Beneficiary

Benefactors give benefits.

Beneficiaries receive them.

Beside / Besides

Beside means at the side of.

Besides means in addition to. 

Biannual / Biennial

Biannual means happening twice a year.

Biennial means every two years.

This is bit tricky!

Birth (childbearing) / Berth (place of rest)
Berth is a place to sleep on a boat or ship to train.

Birth is the beginning (usually of life ).

Blonde / Blond
French words.

Blonde is feminine.

Blond is masculine.

Blunt / Brunt
Blunt is the opposite of sharp.

Brunt means main force.

Board (plank; food) / Bored (drilled; uninterested)
Board is a long sheet of wood, also a group of people as in Board of Directors and as a verb means to go onto a ship, plane or other form of public transport.

Bored means not interested.

Bore / Boar / Boor
Bore as a noun is a boring or tiresome person or something that you don't like doing.

Bore as a verb is to drill.

Boar is a male pig.

Boor is a vulgar person.

Born (beginning of life) / Borne (carried)

Bought / Brought
Bought is the past tense of buy.

Brought is the past tense of bring.

So, I bought (paid for) a load of topsoil, and a truck driver (delivered) it to my home. 

Braise / Braze
Braise means to cook slowly in liquid (usually meat).

Braze most commonly means to solder with an alloy of copper and zinc. 

Breach / Breech
Breach is to break and breeches are worn by horse riders on their legs.

Break (smash, split) / Brake (stopping device)

Breath / Breathe

When you need to breathe, you take a breath.

Breathe is the verb, breath is the noun.

Bridal / Bridle

Bridal has to do with brides and weddings.

Bridle as a noun means a halter or restraint or to draw oneself up in the anger. 

Broach / Brooch
A decorative pin is a brooch.

To broach means to touch upon or start especially a topic. 

By / Buy / Bye 
By is a preposition meaning next to.

Buy means purchase.

Bye means farewell or goodbye.

Logical 13 - Assertion and Reason

Key Points to Remember:

An Assertion is an affirmation, a declaration or a strong statement. Normally assertions have reasons.

In this question type, an assertion is first given followed by a reason. We are supposed to first judge whether the assertion (A) is true and then decide on whether the reason (R) is true and in case both A and R are true then we need to see whether the reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Instructions:

For the Assertions (A) and Reasons (R), choose the correct alternative from the following.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(c) A is true but R is false.

(d) A is false but R is true.

(e) If both A and R are false.

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

Assertion - Crude oil is abundantly found in nature.

Reason - It is the main raw material for all automobiles.

Solution - Both Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason does not explain the Assertion.
Hence, (b) is the answer.

Question 2:

Assertion - Anil Kumble lost his place in the Indian ODI squad sometime back.

Reason - In spite of being India’s best spinner he was considered to be too old for ODIs.

Both Assertion and Reason are right and the reason correctly explains the assertion.
Hence (a) is the right answer.

Question 3:

Assertion - Over the past few decades, there has been drastic global warming.

Reason - The push for economic development has increased to dangerous proportions the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Green house gases are the root cause of global warming. Hence both A and R are true and R explains A.
Hence, option (a) is correct.

Question 4:

Assertion - Kerala is the largest state in India.

Reason - Some of the leading car manufacturing companies of the world are Japanese.

The Assertion is false because Kerala is not the largest state in India. R is true but it is not related to Assertion.
Hence, option (d) is correct.

Question 5:

Assertion - The filament inside a bulb is made of copper.

Reason - Usually there is vacuum in the bulb.

A is false because a bulb’s filament is made of Tungsten and not copper. R is also false because inert gases or nitrogen are filled inside the bulb and there is no vacuum in the bulb.
Hence, option (e) is correct.

Time to Think:

Assertion - In medical parlance with respect to blood groups, a person with a blood group of ‘O’ is called Universal Donor.

Reason - A person with the ‘AB’ blood group can accept blood of all types, i.e., A, B, AB and O.

Verbal 6 - English Words of Foreign Origin

Celtic Words

Banshee - Irish fairy with a wail portending death
Plaid - long cloak or shawl
Shamrock - lover leaf especially an Irish emblem
Vassal - dependent
Gravel - small stones; coarse sand
Truant - one absent without a leave
Galore - in plenty
Colleen - young Irish girl
Blarney - flattering talk
Bog - soft, wet ground
Brogue - stout shoe; Irish accent
Lawn - stretch of grass in garden; fine linen
Crag - steep, rugged rock
Quay - dock
Loch - lake
Gull - aquatic bird
Javelin - light spear
Tory - member of conservative party in England
Clan - group of families
Glengarry - a small brimless hat


Arabic Words

Camphor - strong smelling ketone
Alchemy - magic, art of converting metal into gold
Garble -  mix-up
Henna - dye
Tarragon - spice
Saffron - orange / yellow spice
Lute - stringed instrument
Bedouin - member of nomadic Arabic race
Fakir - member of Islamic religious order, ascetic
Sequin - small ornamental stars to be stitched on clothes
Sherbet - flavored drink
Sultan - ruler of Muslimkingdom
Zenith - highest point
Nadir - lowest point
Muezzin - crier, who summons Muslims to prayer
Minaret - tall, slender tower of Mosque yearly calendar
Almanac - yearly calendar
Amber - yellowish, translucent fossil resin
Alcove - recess
Algebra - method of calculating
Carafe - decanter
Harem - women's dwelling, one man's wives
Carat - small weight used to measure gold, etc.
Cipher - secret writing
Civet - strong, musky perfume
Emir - an independent Islamic ruler
Cotton - thread or cloth made from this plant's seed
Elixir - medicine or remedy, used by alchemists
Monsoon - heavy rainfall season, rainy season
Ream - large bundles of paper


French Words

Bouillon - Thin soup
Praline - nut candy
Potage - thick soup
Absinthe - green, flavored liquid
Cuisine - style of cooking
Cassarole - covered baking dish
Nougat - type of candy
Croquette - patty of cooked meat or fish
Flambe - pour alcoholic drink on food and ignite
Liqueur - flavored alcoholic liquid
Tureen - serving dish for soup
Gourmet - connoisseur of wine, food etc.
Gourmand - glutton
Blacmange - jelly-like dessert made with milk
Serviette - table-napkin
Burlesque - ludicrous parody
Marquee - Sign used in theatre
Roulette - game of chance
Piroutte - to whirl on one foot
Silhoutte - outline of object against light
Nuance - delicate shade of differences
Precis - abstract, summary
Vignette - design on a book page
Critique - critical essay
Coteria - social clique, exclusive group
Connoisseur - critical expert of matters of art
Belles-letters - aesthetic writings
Memories - reward of events, autobiography
Bon mot - clever saying
Repartee - witty talk
rapport - harmony
Idee fixe - obsession
Bourgeois - middle class
Charlatan - faker, quack
Faux pas - social blunder
Genteel - element refined
Largesse - generosity
Gauche - socially inept
Nonchalance - indifferent
Raconteur - eexpert storyteller
Avant-garde - in advance
Milieu - environment
Tete-a-tete - private conversation

Vis-à-vis - regarding, in relation to

Outre - bizarre
Passe - out of date
Liaison - connection
Rendezvous - meeting place, appointment
Joie-de vivre - enjoyment of life
Eclat - success
Savoir - fair
Boulevard - broad avenue in a city
Salon - a shop of fashion, drawing room
Chateau - castle

Façade - front of a building

Chaise - light, open carriage
Bureau - office disk
Concierge - doorman
Melee - a mixed fight or crowd
Terrain - area of ground
Saboteur - damage closer especially secretly
Aide-de-camp - military officer personality assisting superior
Chausseur - driver
Espionage - use of spice
Ricochet - rebound (of bullet)
Envoy - official representative
Bivouac - temporary camp of soldiers
Espirit de corps - feelings of pride in belonging to a group
Despot - a tyrant or absolute ruler
Commandant - officer in command

Answers Week 6

Quants 13 - Progressions

Bobby was appointed to Mindworkzz in the pay scale of ` 7000–500–12,500. Find how many years he will take to reach the maximum of the scale.

7000 – 500 – 12500 means that the starting scale is 7000 and there is an increment of 500 every

year. Since, the total increment required to reach the top of his scale is 5500, the number of years

required would be 5500/500 = 11. 

He will take 11 years to reach the maximum of the scale.

Logical 11 - Sequence and Series

What is the next term in the following series?

1, 4, 3, 9, 5, 16, 7, 25, 9, 36, 11, ?

(a) 64 

(b) 49

(c) 48 

(d) 55

Two series are intermingled with each other as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 22, 32, 42, 52, 62. Hence,

the next term in the series would be 7² = 49, so the correct answer is option (b). 

Logical 12 - Blood Relations

How many sons does Emily have?

a. Four 

b. Three

c. Two 

d. One

( C & F are the two sons)

Who is the Ciao’s sibling?

a. Hello 

b. Ciao

c. Vanakkam 

d. Cannot be determined

Who is M’s father?

a. O 

b. R

c. N 

d. Data inadequate

Logical 12 - Blood Relations

In a family of six persons—Abhay, Banta, Cathy, Deepak, Emily and Fatima, there are three males and three females. There are two married couples and two persons are unmarried. Each one of them likes different cold drinks. Emily who likes Coke, is the mother-in-law of Abhay, who is the wife of Cathy. Deepak is the father of Fatima and he does not like Thumps Up or Pepsi; Banta likes Limca and is the sister of Fatima who likes Sprite. Cathy does not like Pepsi. Fanta is another cold drink.

Solution:

While solving logical reasoning questions, always try to place the direct information first and keep any indirect clues aside for later use.

In this question you will find that:

Emily likes Coke ...........→ Direct clue

Deepak is the father of Fatima → Direct clue

Deepak does not like Thumsup or Pepsi → Indirect clue,…. and so on.

Keep in mind the following points while solving all questions on logical reasoning:

1. First use the direct clues.

2. In the case of a family tree the diagram should essentially be a multilevel diagram to ensure clarity of being able to see multiple generations on the same diagram.

3. Males and females should be marked separately with some symbols. One suggestion is the females can be marked inside a circle/bracket or with an underlined letter as A or alternately males can be marked with a + sign and females with a – sign. 

4. Relationships should be marked using horizontal links or vertical links.

The following diagrams will emerge from the clues

At this stage, you know that A, B and E are the three females and C, D and F are the three males; you also know that A and C are one of the two couples. 

Hence, the other couple must be D and E. (They must be married to each other since they have children.)

This leads to a combined diagram which looks as below:

To this information, add the likes and dislikes of individuals as follows:

Further, D does not like Thums Up or Pepsi, hence he must like Fanta; Cathy does not like Pepsi (hence Thumps Up) and Abhay likes Thums Up.

Practice Questions:

1. Who among the following likes Thumps Up?

a. Cathy

b. Deepak

c. Abhay

d. Data inadequate

2. How is Fatima related to Emily?

a. Brother 

b. Son

c. Father 

d. Daughter

3. One of the married couple’s is:

a. Deepak-Banta

b. Deepak-Emily

c. anta-Fatima

d. Emily-Fatima

4. Which of the following cold drinks is liked by Abhay?

a. Thumps Up

b. Fanta

c. Pepsi

d. Data inadequate

Time to Think:

5. How many sons does Emily have?

a. Four 

b. Three

c. Two 

d. One

Passage 2:

Hello, Ciao and Vanakkam are related to each other.

I. Among the three, one is Hello’s legal spouse, another is Ciao’s sibling and the third is Vanakkam’s sister-in-law.

II. Hello’s legal spouse and Ciao’s sibling are of the same sex.

Solution:

From the statement that Ciao’s sibling and Hello’s legal spouse are of the same sex, we can conclude that Hello cannot be the sibling of Ciao (because Hello’s sex would be different from his/her legal spouse’s sibling). Hence, Ciao’s sibling must be Vanakkam.

This gives us four basic possibilities for the husband wife pair:

(1) Hello (male) – Vanakkam (female; Hello’s wife as well as Ciao’s sibling); Ciao (Vanakkam’s sibling; sex not known). In this case, the situation does not allow for Vanakkam’s sister-in-law. Hence, we can reject this as a possible solution to the situation.

(2) Hello (female) – Vanakkam (male; Hello’s husband as well as Ciao’s sibling); Ciao (Vanakkam’s sibling – sex not known). In this case again, the situation does not allow for Vanakkam’s sister-in-law. Hence, we can reject this as a possible solution to the situation.

(3) Hello (male) – Ciao (female; Hello’s wife as well as Vanakkam’s sibling); Vanakkam (Ciao’s sibling – female as she has to be the same sex as Hello’s spouse). In this case, again the situation does not allow for Vanakkam’s sister-in-law. Hence, we can reject this as a possible solution to the situation.

(4) Hello (female) – Ciao (male; Hello’s husband as well as Vanakkam’s sibling); Vanakkam (Ciao’s sibling – male as she has to be the same sex as Hello’s spouse). In this case, the last condition of Vanakkam’s sister-in-law is met because Hello is the sister-in-law of Vanakkam.

Thus, we conclude that this is the only possible solution given the clues.

Practice Questions:

1. Who is the married man?

a. Hello 

b. Ciao

c. Vanakkam 

d. Cannot be determined

2. Who is the married woman?

a. Hello 

b. Ciao

c. Vanakkam 

d. Cannot be determined

3. The number of males amongst the group is

I. 1 

II. 2

a. I 

b. II

c. I or II 

d. Neither I nor II

Time to Think:

4. Who is the Ciao’s sibling?

a. Hello 

b. Ciao

c. Vanakkam 

d. Cannot be determined

Passage 3:

In a joint family of seven persons L, M, N, O, P, Q and R two are married couples. ‘R’ is a housewife and her husband is a lawyer. ‘N’ is the wife of ‘M’, ‘L’ is an engineer and is the granddaughter of ‘R’, and ‘O’ is the father-in-law of ‘N’, a doctor, and father of ‘P’, a professor. ‘Q’ is L’s brother and M’s son.

Solution:

Practice Questions:

1. How is P related to M?

a. Son 

b. Brother

c. Daughter 

d. Data inadequate

2. How is Q related to O?

a. Grand father 

b. Uncle

c. Grand son 

d. Data inadequate

Time to Think:

3. Who is M’s father?

a. O 

b. R

c. N 

d. Data inadequate

Verbal 5 - Words and Phrases confused - A

Key Points to Remember:

Some words are often confused with each other because they are

• similar in spelling and different in usage
• similar in spelling and different in pronounciation
• similar in pronunciation but different in spelling or usage
• similar in spelling but different in meaning
• slightly different in spelling but have same usage
• words whose usage is commonly mistaken by the non native speaker

Capitonyms are words that share the same spelling but have different meanings when capitalized. Eg., polish (to make shiny) and Polish (from Poland).

Homographs or Homophones are words that share the same spelling regardless of how they are pronounced. Eg., ball (toy) and ball (a form of dance).

Polysemes are the words with the same spelling and distinct but related meaning.

Homograph - same writing

Homophone - same sound

Hetronym - different name

Hetrophone - different sound

Words in A:

Abdicate / Abrogate

We abandon things when abdicating.

We abrogate things when we abolish them.

Accede / Exceed 

Accede means to agree or to allow.

Exceed means to go beyond or to surpass as in.

Drivers who exceed the speed limit are asking for hefty fines.

Accept (receive) / Except (leave out)

To accept is to agree something or to receive something willingly.

To except is to exclude or omit.

Access (approach) / Excess (too much)

Adapt (change) / Adept (skill) / Adopt (choose)

Adopt means to adjust.

Adept means skilled

Adopt means to take as your own.

Adverse / Averse

 Adverse means inauspicious or hostile.

Averse means disinclined or repelled.

Advice (suggestion) / Advise (to recommend)

Advice is the noun and Advise is the verb.

You advise someone.

What you give that person is advice.

Affluence / Effluence

Affluence is wealth.

Effluence is waste or useless product.

Aisle / Isle

An aisle is a narrow passageway, especially in a church or store.

An isle is an island.

All right / Alright

All right is the correct form.

Alright is grammatically incorrect.

The misspelling alright is non standard usage. Two two words are separate.

Allot (assign, distribute) / A lot (a large amount) 

Allude (suggest) / Elude (escape)

Allusion (suggestion) / Illusion (deception, fantasy)

Allusion is a reference to something literary or historical with which the reader is presumably familiar.

An illusion is a false, misleading, idea.

Aloud / Allowed 

Aloud means out loud or speaking so that someone else can hear you.

Allowed means permitted.

Already (previously) / All ready (completely prepared)

Already means by this time.

All ready means prepared.

Altar (church table) / Alter (change)

Altogether (entirely) / All together (complete group)

Always (at all times) / All ways (all methods)

Among / Between
Between expresses the joining or separation of two people or things.
Among refers to a group of three or more.

Amoral / Immoral
Amoral is a rather technical word meaning unrelated to morality.
When you mean to denounce someone's behavior, call it immoral

Amount / Number 
Write number when things can be counted.
When things are lumped together, write amount.

Annual / Annul
Annual means yearly
Annul means to make void or invalid.

Anxious / Eager
Anxiety is unpleasant.
Eagerness is joyous.
They are not synonyms.

Anyone / Any one
Anyone means anybody, any person at all.
Any one means any one person and is followed by of.

Appraise / Apprise
Appraise is to assess or estimate.
Apprise is to inform or notify.

Ascent (climb) / Assent (agree)
Ascent is an upward movement.
Assent means agreement.

Ascribe / Subscribe
If you agree with a theory of belief, you ascribe to it, just as you.
Subscribe is to a magazine.

Assistance / Assistants
Assistance means help or aid.
Assistants is the plural of assistant which means one who gives help.

Assume / Presume
We assume things in the absence of evidence.
We presume things when it is reasonable to do so and there is no evidence to the contrary.

Assure / Ensure / Insure
Assure means to guarantee.
Ensure means to to make sure.
Insure means to protect against loss or damage.

Attain / Obtain
Attain means reach.
Obtain means get.

Auger / Augur
Auger is a tool.
Augur means to predict or a sort of an omen.

Affect (influence) / Effect (result)
Affect is a verb meaning either to influence or to pretend.
Effect as a verb means to accomplish or to produce as a result and as a noun, effect means result.
Affect is a verb; Effect is more usually a noun.
When used as a verb, it means to achieve or fulfil or realize.

Aid / Aide

We aid people when we help them.
An aide is a special assistant.

Logical 11 - Sequences and Series

Key Points to Remember:

Sequences and series consists of questions where we are supposed to understand the logic behind a given sequence or series of number/alphabets. Based on this understanding we are supposed to determine either:

(a) A continuation to the series

(b) The immediate next term of the series

or

(c) A missing term/terms within the series.

We should improve our ability to spot a particular relationship between terms within the series. The common logical premises used for questions are given here.

SERIES BASED ON NUMBERS

1. Squares

2. Squares + something or squares–something e.g. next term in the series 24, 35, 48, 63, 80... will be 99 since the series is (52 + 1), (62 + 1), etc.

3. Cubes, cubes + something, cubes–something

4. Geometric series

5. Arithmetic series

6. Harmonic series

7. Series of constantly changing additions or multiplications, e.g.,

(i) 2, 6, 24, 120,.......... (The terms are got by ¥ 3, ¥ 4, ¥ 5, and so on.)

(ii) 11, 16, 22, 29, 37,.......... (The series follows a logic of +5, +6, +7, +8, and so on.)

8. Binary numbers systems or number systems with other bases like Base 3, Base 4, etc.

9. Intermingled series–

e.g., 2, 5, 6, 10, 18, 15, 54

In this series alternate terms starting with the first form a GP with common ratio 3, while the 2nd, 4th, 6th terms form an AP 5, 10, 15.........

SERIES BASED ON ALPHABETS

In such series, the most crucial aspect is to know the position of each alphabet in the alphabet series

A to Z both from start to end.

Thus, the following reference numbers for each alphabet become important:

Notice that M and N are the two middle points of this series.

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

Which of the following letters would come next in the series of letters?

Z, W, R, K, __

(a) A 

(b) C

(c) B 

(d) D

In the given series from the end of the alphabet series, Z is the 1st alphabet, W is the 4th alphabet, R is the 9th alphabet and K is the 16th alphabet. Thus the next letter in the series will be the 25th alphabet from the end or the second from the start. Hence, the next alphabet must be B. Thus (c) is the correct option.

Question 2:

0.005, 0.05, ?, 5

(a) 5.50 

(b) 0.05

(c) 0.5 

(d) none of these

A Geometric Progression with common ratio 10. Hence, the missing term will be 0.5 i.e., option (c).

Question 3:

What would come next in the following series?

A10, D15, G20, J25 __

(a) N18 

(b) O20

(c) M16 

(d) none of these

In the series of letters represented above there is a gap of 2 letters between every two consecutive terms and hence, the next letter will be M (after skipping K and L). Thus, the correct answer should be M30. Thus Option (d) is correct.

Question 4:

(1, 1), (2, 16), (3, 81), ?

(a) (4, 16) 

(b) (4, 64)

(c) (4, 256) 

(d) none of these

The relationship followed in each bracket is the fourth power of the first digit in the bracket. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Question 5:

ABCDEFG, GABCDEF, FGABCDE, ?

(a) EFGABCD 

(b) GABCDEF

(c) EFGABCDE 

(d) FGABCDE

The next term is formed by removing the last alphabet in the previous term and attaching it to the first alphabet of the next term. Hence, the next term in the series would be EFGABCD. So, the answer is option (a).

Time to Think:

What is the next term in the following series?

1, 4, 3, 9, 5, 16, 7, 25, 9, 36, 11, ?

(a) 64 

(b) 49

(c) 48 

(d) 55

Verbal 4 - English Words of Foreign Origin

Indian Words

Yoga - Hindu system of physical and mental exercise
Tantra - religious writing
Tonga - horse-drawn carriage
Wallah - somebody in charge of certain thing
Dhoti - Indian male unstitched garment wrapped on waist.
Avatar - incarnation
Gunny - jute bag, sack
Nawab - Indian nobleman in Mughal Empire
Sahib - respectful form of address for men
Pundit - Expert, authority, priest
Guru - teacher, wise leader
Sandal - type of wood
Chutney - sweet and sour sauce
Pachisi - board game
Nirvana - heaven, freedom
Myna - bird
Karma - fate
Dharma - code of conduct of Hindus
Ginger - spice
Stupa - dome-shaped structure where ashes are kept


German Words

Pumpernickel - a dark, dense, sour bread
Kindergarden - a school or class for young children
Hoodium - a petty criminal
Delicatessen - prepared food sold in a shop serving

Loafers - casual leather slip-on shoe / imported or unusual foods; such a shop

Glitch - minor hitch. lazy person

Glisten - to shine

Dutch Words

Landscape - scenery

Holster - leather case for firearm

Sleigh - sledge

Caboose - rail guard's van

Colesaw - salad made with mayonnaise dressing

Boss - senior or person in charge of

Cookie - biscuit

Freight - commercial transport especially railways or ship

Snoop - meddle, spy on

Skipper - Captain of ship or Team   (eg., Our MS Dhoni!!!)

Bumpkin - rustic

Bed spread - bed cover, decorative covering on bed

Japanese Words

Tsunami - large destructive ocean wave

Hibachi - a portable barbeque

Tycoon - powerful and wealthy businessman

Bonsai - art of growing miniature trees

Bonzai - a patriotic battle cry or shout

Origami - Japanese art of paper folding

Samurai - former Japanese form of unarmed combat
Karate - traditional Japanese form of unarmed combat

Shogun - any hereditary military commands in feudal Japan

Kimono - traditional Japanese garment

African Words

Banana - tropical plant and its fruit

Daishiki - clothes

Chimpanzee - an ape

Samba - a Brazilian dance of African origin

Yam - a root vegetable

Okra - lady's finger plant, a vegetable

Tse-tse - two-winged bitting fly


Spanish Words

Bolero - Spanish Dance
Fiesta - religious festival or celebration
Primero - card game played in 16th and 17th century
Tango - Latin or American or Spanish dance
Ombre - card game popular in 18th century
Domino - board game
Quadrile - card game for four players; a French dance
Spade - digging tool
Monte - betting game played with cards
Castanets - wooden or plastic device that makes a clicking sound when pressed by palm of hand
Embargo - restricting commerce
Pronto - fast
Galleon - large sailing vessel
Grenade - small bomb
Guerrilla - independent soldiers
Flotilla - group of Ships
Garrote - strangulation
Junta - ruling group
Intransigent - inflexible
Machete - large, heavy knife
Parade - large public procession
Anchory - small savoury fish
Sherry - fortified wine
Tortilla - thin Mexican pan cake or chips
Marinade - seasoned, flavoured liquid used to soak meat
Sarsaparilla - drink made from root of plant
Bravado - bluster
Barbeque - an open grill or fire place
Sassafras - aromatic tree whose bark has medicinal value
Adobe - sun dried brick
Canyon - deep valley with steep sides
Arroyo - gulch
Toreador - bull fighter
Senorita - Miss
Senora - Mrs
Senor - Mr
Metador - Bull fighter
Renegade - deserter
Don - lord or gentleman
Dona - title of respect for a married woman
Desperado - bold, reckless criminal
Albino - person deficient of pigmentation
Patio - courtyard
Pueblo - adobe house
Hacienda - landed estate
Sierra - chain of hills or mountains
Vega - grassy plain
Plaza - open space or square; complex of shops
Esplande - level space
El Dorado - fictious country rich in gold
Rodeo - showing of cowboy skills
Lariat - long, noosed rope for catching horses
Bronco - untamed horse
Lasso - long noosed rope, lariat
Gaucho - cowboy of South American Pampas