Verbal 12 - Sentence Completion

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the options given below. Do not use the same word twice. 

[ abolished, abated, abdicated, abandoned, able, rebates, capable, abridged, banished, capacious, abbreviation, about, bear, exile, bared, sale, war, barter, battle, above ]

Practice Questions:

1. Lord Buddha abdicated his kingship and became a hermit.

2. The Indian Government abolished slavery.

3. The residents abandoned the haunted house.

4. The rain abated after some time.

5. The shops offer rebates in the off season.

6. Our government is able to confront any type of situation.

7. He is capable of solving this problem.

8. Confucius possessed a capacious mind.  

9. B.A. is an abbeviation  of "Bachelor of Arts".

10. Abridged versions of classics are easier to read than the original versions.
11.  It was about ten in the night when we reached home.

12. The painting was hung above the window.

13. The Shah of Iraq was banished from his country.

14. Prospero, a character of Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" was living in exile.

15. The patient bared his chest when the Doctor examined him.

Time to Think:

 

16. We have to _______ our own burdens.

17. Napoleon was killed in the _______ of Waterloo.

18. The world is on the verge of a third world _______.

19. _______ is an economic transaction involving exchange of articles.

20. The premises is for _______.

Verbal 11 - Words and Phrases Confused - C

Words in C:

Cache / Cachet 

Cache comes from the French word "cacher", meaning "to hide" and in English, is pronounced exactly like the word "cash".

But speaking of a cache (hidden hoard of weapons, drugs etc.)

Often mispronounced to sound like cachet is a word with a very different meaning; it was originally a seal affixed to a document but now refers to the quality attributed to anything with authority or prestige. 

Callous / Callused

Calling someone callous is a way of metaphorically suggesting a lack of feeling similar to that caused by calluses on the skin; but if you are speaking literally of the tough build-up on a person's hand or feet, the word you need is callused.

Can / May

Can refers to one's ability.

May concerns whether one has permission.

Canon / Cannon

Canon is used for principles or rules and Cannon refers to a large piece of artillery.

Canvas / Canvass

Canvas refers to fabric. Canvass means examine, campaign fro election. 

Capital / Capitol
Capital means city; wealth.
Capitol means building.

Carat / Caret / Carrot / Karat
Carrots are those crunchy orange vegetables, but this spelling gets misused for the less familiar words which are pronounced the same but have very different meanings.

Precious stones like Diamonds are weighed in Carats. The same word is used to express the proportion of pure gold in an alloy, though in this usage, it is sometimes spelled Karats. Hence the abbreviation is 22K Gold.

A caret is a proofreader's mark showing where something needs to be inserted, shaped like a tiny pitched roof. It looks rather like a French circumflex, but is usually distinct from it on modern computer keyboards.

Carets are extensively used in Computer Programming - ^

Career / Careen 

Careening down the road is swerving from side to side, whereas career relates to your future, job etc.

Censor / Censure / Sensor

Censor refers to prohibit. 

Censure is harsh criticism. 

Sensor is the measuring device.

Cereal / Serial

Cereal is something you might eat for breakfast, such as porridge.

Serial is something in a series; something that continues after one another.

Choose / Chose

Choose is to select.

Chose is the past tense of choose.

Chunk / Chuck

Chunk is a big piece.

Chuck means to throw.

Cite / Site / Sight

Cite means to indicate.

A site is a place.

Sight is vision.

Click / Clique 
To click is to push a button, or switch; to emit or make a slight, sharp sound or a series of such sounds.
Clique is a small exclusive group of friends or associates.

Coarse / Course
Coarse is rough.
Course is way, path.

Collaborate / Corroborate
Collaborate means to work with someone.
Corroborate means to establish the truth of something.

Collage / College
You can paste together bits of paper to make a collage.
The institution of higher education is a college.

Come over / Overcome
Come over is a phrasal verb, that can mean several things. It can mean to move from one place to another or move towards someone.
Overcome is a verb which means to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something.

Compare / Contrast
You compare things like objects for both similarities and differences.
You contrast any two things like or alike by identifying dissimilarities.

Complement / Compliment
Complement means to make complete, to supplement.
Compliment means to praise.

Concentrate / Concentrated
When you concentrate (verb) you direct all your efforts towards a particular activity, subject or problem.
If something is concentrated, it means it has had some liquid removed.
The simple past of concentrate is concentrated and this is where the confusion may arise.

Connote / Denote
The literal meaning of the word is its denotation, the broader associations we have with the word are its connotations.

Conscience / Conscious / Consciousness
Conscience is Moral Sense. Our Conscience makes us feel  guilty when we do bad things.
Conscious is aware. If we are awake, we are conscious.
Consciousness is our awareness.

Consul / Council / Councilor / Counsel / Counselor
Consul is a diplomat to a foreign country.
Council refers to a group to discuss and take action on official matters.
A councilor is a member of such group.
Counsel is advice or to advise.
A counselor is an advisor.

Continual / Continuous
Continual means something that happens frequently with breaks between the occurrences.
Continuous means something that happens without stopping.

Convince / Persuade
We persuade people to act.
We convince when using proof to accept a belief. Hence, we usually are convinced something is true, but other try to persuade us to do something.

Cooperation / Corporation
Cooperation or Co-Operation means working together.
Corporation is a business organization.

Copyright / Copywrite
Copyright is the legal ownership of a book, film, play, piece of musical composition etc., or the right to print , publish, film, record or platform them.
Copywrite is something you do if you are creating advertising ir publicity material.

Core / Corps / Corpse
Apples have cores.
A corps is an organization like the Peace Corps.
A corpse is a dead body, a carcass.

Correspondence / Correspondents
Correspondence is written communication.
Correspondents are those who write it.

Creak / Creek
Creak is both a noun and a verb and means squeak or groan. For instance, rusty hinges and loose floorboards creak.
Creek is a noun and means a waterway or stream.

Credible / Creditable / Credulous
Credible means believable or trustworthy.
Creditable means praiseworthy or deserving credit.
Credulous is a rarer word meaning gullible - easily persuaded to believe something.

Crevice / Crevasse
Crevices are by definition tiny, like that little. Crevice between your teeth were the popcorn hulls always get caught.
A huge crack in a glacier is given the French spelling, crevasse.

Criteria / Criterion
Criterion is singular; Criteria is plural.
Criterion is in the case of single specification.
Criteria is in the case of more than one specification.

Cue / Queue
Cue has a variety of meanings like a clue or a play instrument as in a game of billiard, but all uses of queue relate to the original French meaning of tail which becomes a metaphor for a line.

Curb / Kerb
Curb means to control as in curb your temper.
Kerb is the edge of a footpath or sidewalk.

Currant / Current
Currant is a fruit, usually dried.
Current is an adjective which means contemporary or fashionable; as a noun it means stream or flow.

Cursor / Curser
Cursor is the computer marker.
Curser is the swearer. 

Verbal 10 - Synonyms

Let's see the meanings for some of the rich words from the previous post.

1. dynamism - the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress.
2. contemporary - living or occurring at the same time.
3. ecstasy - an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
4. penury - extreme poverty.
5. agony - extreme physical or mental suffering.

6. anguish - severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

7. elation - great happiness and exhilaration.
8. capricious - given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

9. dormant - suspended or slowed down for a period of time

10. ardor - great enthusiasm or passion
11. corpulence - the state of being fat
12. languor - tiredness or inactivity
13. impertinence - lack of respect, rudeness
14. turbulence - sudden change in airflow
15. incarceration - imprisonment
16. incineration - the destruction of waste materials by burning
17. emphases - special importance
18. rhapsodic - expressing powerful feelings
19. eclectic - deriving ideas
20. refulgent - shining very brightly

Special Occasion - Special Restart

My dear Aspirants,

       My heartfelt deep apologies for pausing this work of Aptitude. On this auspicious day of Vijayadhasami, a day of good start, let us restart and resume the work more energetically and vigorously. Let us have a good number of questions on this wonderful day. We have successfully completed 300 questions as of today and the past 9 weeks posts of our blog. Let's wait for our next milestone achievement of 100 posts and 1000 questions soon!!! :) Keep Supporting us!!! HAPPY VIJAYADHASAMI!!

If Neena says "Anitha's father Raman is the only son of my father-in-law Mahipal", then how is Bindhu, who is the sister of Anitha, related to Mahipal?

Only son of Neena's Father in Law Mahipal is Neena's Husband.

So, Raman is Neena's husband and Anitha & Bindhu are his daughters.

Thus, Bindhu is the grand - daughter of Mahipal.

A man leaves for his office from his house. He walks towards East. After moving a distance of 20m, he turns South and walks 10m. Then he walks 35m towards the West and further 5m towards the North. He then turns towards East and walks 15m. What is the straight distance in metres between his initial and final positions?

The movements of the man is shown in the above figure. Clearly, DC = AB + EF. F is also in the line of A. AF = (BC - DE) = 5m.

So, the man is 5m away from his initial position. 

The positions of how many digits in the number 321465987 will remain same when the digits are arranged in Ascending Order?

Original Number - 3 2 1 4 6 5 9 8 7

Ascending Order - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Clearly, the positions of 2, 4, 8 remain unaltered.

Aman is 16th from the left end in a row of boys and Vivek is 18th from the right end. Gagan is 11th from Aman towards the right and 3rd from Vivek towards the right end. How many boys are there in the row?

Vivek is 18th from the right end and Gagan is 3rd to the right of Vivek. So, Gagan is 15th from the right end. Thus, there are 15 boys to the left of Aman, 10 boys between Aman and Gagan and 14 boys to the left of Gagan. 

So, the number of boys in the row = 15 + 1 + 10 + 1 + 14 = 41. 

In a Cricket match, five batsmen A, B, C, D and E scored an average of 36 runs. D scored 5 more runs than E. E scored 8 fewer than A. B scored as many as D and E combined and B & C scored 107 runs between them. How many runs did E score?

Total runs scored = 36 * 5 = 180

Let the runs scored by E be x.

Runs scored by D = x + 5 

Runs scored by A = x + 8 ( E = A - 8 )

Runs scored by B = 2x + 5 (B = D + E )

Runs scored by C = 107 - B = 107 - 2x  - 5 = 102 - 2x

So, total runs, (x + 8) + (2x + 5 ) + (102 - 2x) + (x+5) + x = 180

3x + 120 = 180

3x = 60

x = 20

Runs scored by E is 20. 

Which would be the proper order of the following in Ascending Order?

Trillion, Thousand, Billion, Hundred, Million

Hundred, Thousand, Million, Billion, Trillion.

Find the relationship. (27, 9, 54), (42, 14, 84), (?, 7, 42)

We have, (27 + 54) / 9 = 9 and (42+84) / 14 = 9.
Hence, (x+42) / 7 = 9; x = 21



If in an Examination hall, you find that the question paper is too tough to be answered satisfactorily by you, the best thing to do for you is,
a) tell the examiner that the questions are out of course
b) provoke the candidates to walk out of the examination hall
c) try to know something from your neighbor
d) try to solve the questions as much as you know with a cool head

Clearly, an ideal student shall never be expected to create a row over such an issue or try to copy the answers. Also, a situation can best be tackled by not creating panic rather trying to solve it with a cool head. So, the answer is d.


Assertion (A) : Telephone wires sag more in Summer
Reason (R) : They expand due to Summer heat
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
e) Both A and R are false

The metal of telephone wires expands in Summer and the wires become loose. So, they sag. Hence, the answer is a.


Statement : Should Coal Engines be replaced by Electric Engines in Trains?
Arguments:
I. Yes. Coal Engines cause a lot of Pollution.
II. Yes. Electric Engines are good on performance, easy to operate and low on maintenance.
III. No. India does not produce enough electricity to fill its domestic needs also.

a) All are strong
b) Only I and II are strong
c) Only II and III are strong
d) Only I and III are strong
e) Only I is strong

Clearly, electric engines shall be smoke-free and thus not cause pollution as the coal engines. They also run at higher speeds and perform better. Thus, both I and II hold strong. Argument III does not provide a convincing reason and hence does not hold strong. So, the answer is b.



__________, the more they remain the same.
a) The more the merrier
b) The less the dynamism
c) The more things change
d) The more pronounced the transformation


The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what __________.
a) he makes out of it
b) he gets for others
c) he has overcome through it
d) he becomes by it


Though one eye is kept firmly on the __________, the Company now also promotes __________ contemporary art.
a) present, experimental
b) future, popular
c) present, popular
d) market, popular


__________ and ecstasy are the two sides of a puzzle called life. 
a) Pain
b) Penury
c) Agony
d) Anguish
e) Elation


A __________ of fresh air relaxes a tense mind.
a) breathe
b) volley
c) gulp
d) breath
e) brush


Because Raj is so __________, we can never predict what he will do at any moment.
a) old
b) immature
c) capricious
d) lazy
e) dormant


Greg Chappell was impressed by the __________ of the youthful Railways team.
a) ardor
b) corpulence
c) languor
d) impertinence
e) turbulence


The story of the novel, The Deranged, is very __________. It shows how a man cut off from the world for a long time becomes a mad man
a) absorbing
b) irritating
c) controversial
d) useless
e) derived


A careful __________ of the premises revealed some useful clues.
a) autopsy
b) incarceration
c) examination
d) incineration
e) emphases


Raman's __________ record collection included everything from Bach to rock.
a) effusive
b) raphsodic
c) eclectic
d) inherent
e) refulgent




A third of Arul's mark in Mathematics exceeds a half of his marks in English by 30. If he got 240 marks in the two subjects together, how many marks did he get in English?
Let the Math and English marks be x and y respectively.
1/3x -1/2y = 30
(2x - 3y) / 6 = 30
2x - 3y = 180  ----- (1)
x + y = 240 -------- (2)

Solving 1 and 2,
x = 180.
So, English Marks y = 240 - 180 = 60.


If 4/5 of an estate be worth Rs. 16,800, then the value of 3/7 of the estate is _______.
4/5x = 16800
x = 16800 * 5/4 = 21000
3/7x = 3/7 * 21000 = 9000


The sum of three consecutive multiples of 3 is 72. What is the largest number?
Let the three numbers be x, 3x+3 and 3x+6 respectively.
3x + 3x+3 + 3x+6 = 72
9x + 9 = 72
9x = 63
x=7
So, the largest number is 3x + 6 = 21 + 6 = 27.


My brother is three years elder to me. My father was 28 years of age when my sister was born while my mother was 26 years of age when I was born. If my sister was 4 years of age when my brother was born, then what was the age of my father and mother respectively when my brother was born?
Clearly, my brother was 3 years before when I was born and 4 years after my Sister was born. So, father's age when brother was born = 28 + 4 = 32 years and
mother's age when brother was born = 26 - 3 = 23 years


A salesman's commission is 5% on all sales upto Rs. 10,000 and 4% on all sales exceeding this. He remits Rs. 31,100 to his parent company after deducting his commission. Find the total sales. 
Let the total sales be .
Total Sales - Commission = 31100
x - 5% of 10000 + 4% of (x-10000) = 31100
x - [(5/100 * 10000) + (4/100 (x-10000)) ]= 31100
x - 500 - x/25 + 400 = 31100
x - x/25 = 31200
( 25x - x ) / 25 = 31200
24x = 780000
x = 32,500


After getting two successive discounts, a shirt with a list price of Rs. 150 is available at Rs. 105. If the second discount is 12.5%, find the first discount. 
Let the first discount be x%.
Then 87.5% of (100-x)% of 150 = 105
87.5/100 * (100-x / 100) * 150 = 105
100 - x = (105 * 100 * 100) / (87.5*150)
100 - x = 80
x = 20
The first discount is 20%.


A, B and C enter into partnership. A invests 3 times as much as B invests and B invests two third of what C invests. At the end of the year, the profit earned is Rs. 6600. What is the share of B?
Let C's capital be x. Then B's capital is 2/3x.
A's capital is 3 * 2/3x = 2x
Ratio of capitals = 2 : 2/3 : 1 = 6 : 2 : 3
So, B's share = 2/ 11 * 6600 = Rs. 1200.


If 15 men, working 9 hours a day, can reap a field in 16 days. In how many days will 18 men reap the field, working 8 hours a day?
Let the number of days be x.
More men, less days ----- Indirect Proportion
Less hours per day, more days ----- Indirect Proportion
Men :: Hours :: (Days)
18 : 15 :: 8 : 9 :: (16 : x)
18 * 8 * x = 15 * 9 * 16
x = 15 * 9 * 16 / ( 18 * 8)
x = 15 days.


A man can row upstream at 7kmph and downstream at 10kmph. Find man's rate in still water and rate of current.
Rate in still water = 1/2 (10 + 7) = 17/2 = 8.5kmph
Rate of current = 1/2 ( 10 - 7) = 3/2 = 1.5kmph


The perimeters of two squares are 40cm and 32cm. Find the perimeter of a third square whose area is equal to the difference of the areas of the two squares.
Side of 1st square = 40/4 = 10cm
Side of 2nd square = 32/4 = 8cm
Area of third square = 100 - 64 = 36cm²
Side of the third square = √36 = 6cm
Perimeter of the third square = 6 * 4 = 24cm.

Verbal 9 - English Words of Foreign Origin

Italian Words

Prima dinna - principle female singer in an opera
Soprana - highest singing voice
Crescendo - gradual increase on volume or force
Bravo - well done
Quartet - group of four musicians
Maestro - famous conductor
Mandolin - stringed musical instrument
Finale - the last piece
Duet - a composition for two singers
Forte - to play loudly
Libretts - text of long musical piece
Allegro - at a quick and lively tempo
Presto - to be played very fast
Falsetto - high pitched singing method
Virtuoso - exceptional performer
Diva - women opera singer, famous lady
Dilettante - dabbler in art or knowledge
Bravura - great skill
Tempo - music's speed
Opera - musical drama
Piccolo - a very small flute - like musical instrument
Coda - final section of musical piece
Concerto - musical composition for soloist and orchestra
Madrigal - a song with parts
Balcony - a gallery
Villa - country, estate
Arcade - arched passageway, shops
Catacomb - tomb
mezzanine - lowest balcony
Portico - porch
Piozza - plaza
Grotto - cave
Corridor - hallway
Pedestal - a base or support
Alfresco - in the open air
Lotto - game of chance
Tarot - fortune telling cards
Valise - small piece of luggage
Garb - dress
Gondola - Venetian canal boat
Lagoon - area which is sand banked, saltwater lake
Gala - festive occasion, show
Casino - place for gambling
Cascade - waterfall, anything like a waterfall
Gazette - official newspaper for announcements
Incognito - assumed identity
Parasol - sunshade, umbrella
Regatta - meeting for yacht or boat races
Battalion - an army group
Fracas - uproar
Citadel - fortress
Bandit - robber
Salvo - a round of artillery
Vendetta - a private feud
Stiletto - a small dagger with a thin blade, a heel of female shoe
Cartel - alliance of political parties or business houses
Tirade - long angry speech
Partisan - prejudiced, adherent of a party, biased
Cavalcade - procession of riders, fleet of cars
Panache - dashing style
Manifesto - declaration of policy by a political party
Squadron - an army, navy or air force unit
Ducat - a gold coin
Mercantile - trade
Parmesan - cheese
Contra brand - smuggled goods
Porcelain - fine china, earthenware
Frigate - old warship, corresponding to modern cruiser
Skiff - small flat-bottomed boat
Milliner - maker or dealer in woman's hat
Settee - comfortable seat for two people
Bankrupt - financially insolvent


Yiddish Words

Schnapps - brandy, alcoholic drink
Challah - soft egg bread
Bagel - chewy roll with a hole in the middle
Matzoth - unleavened bread
Nosh - food, eat
Kosher - permitted, good (as of food)
Yenta - gossip
Boychik - little boy
Shmo - butt of a joke
Nudnick - bore
noodge - nag
Skiksa - non - jewish woman
Maven - expert
Klutz - clumsy person
Chai - life
Broche - blessing
Mazeltov - congratulations
Gesundneit - Good health
Chutzpah - boldness, self confidence
Bummer - annoying thing
Kvetch - to grumble or complain
Kibitzer - one who interferes
Golem - creature of clay brought to life by magic as in legend
Naches - proud pleasure
Mitzva - a good deed
Kine-abhora - Magical phrase to ward off evil
Fen - expression of disguist
Boo-boo - mistake
plotz - explode
Gehenna - hell
Mish-mosh - confusion
Bupkes - nothing
Mishegosa - nonsense
Phooeyl - expression of disguist, contempt

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

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.

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

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.

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

Verbal 3 - Sentence Completion

Key Points to Remember

Proactive Solving
Identifying clues
Sign posts

• Support Sign - and, similarly, in addition, since, also, thus, because etc.
• Contrast Sign - but, despite, yet, however, unless, rather, although etc.

Root Word Clues

• Prefixes

1. Positive - pro, bene, philo etc.
2. Negative - non, un, im, in, mal etc.

• Suffixes 

1. Positive - ble, ant, ent, en etc.
2. Negative - less, cide etc.

Sentence Structure Clues

• Cause and Effect - accordingly, consequently, because, thus, for, since
• Definition / Restatement - comma, semicolon or colon
• Parts of Speech

Instructions:

Fill the blanks proactively. (1 - 3)
Which part of speech would fill the blank? (4 - 6)

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

He thought his problems were too _______.
complicated

Question 2:
I'm not totally _______ to the idea; however I do have some _______.
against; opinions

Question 3:
She couldn't believe that she had scored 90% in Physics, _______.
the toughest

Question 4:
We had won the game _______.
quickly - adverb

Question 5:
On this _______ occasion, I would like to introduce my fiancee to you all.
special - adjective

Time to Think:

He is my best friend, _______ I can't avoid inviting him.

Verbal 2 - Sentence Correction

Instructions:
Find the mistakes in the sentences and correct them.

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

Ram and I is running.

Ram and I are running

Question 2:
The Chennai Super Kings Team have won today.
The Chennai Super Kings Team has won today.

Question 3:
The parents, along with Surya, are coming to school today.

The parents, along with Surya, is coming to school today.

Question 4:
Either the boys or the girl was managing the show.
No error.
(The verb takes the form of the second noun. Here it's the girl, so was is right.)  #Remember

Question 5:
Everyone have to be present tomorrow for the class.

Everyone has to be present tomorrow for the class.

(Everyone always takes the singular form.)

Time to Think:

Neither the boys, nor the girl get the credit for doing this job.

Verbal 1 - Error Correction

Instructions:
Find the part of the sentence with mistake. If no error, answer (d) - No error.

Practice Questions:

Question 1:

We discussed about the problem so thoroughly (a) / on the evening of the examination (b) / that I found it easy to work out. (c)

(a) is the error part.
Correction - We discussed the problem so thoroughly.

Question 2:
You will get (a) / all the information (b) / if you read this booklet carefully. (c)

(a) is the error part.
Correction - You can get.

Question 3:
The scientist must follow (a) / his hunches and his data (b) / wherever it may lead. (c)
(c) is the error part.
Correction - wherever they may lead. (plural - hunches and data)

Question 4:
He asked me (a) / why I called (b) / him a rogue. (c)
(d) - No error

Question 5:
The customer handed over (a) / a hundred rupees note (b) / to the shopkeeper. (c)

(b) is the error part.
Correction - a hundred rupee note. (as it is one single note)

Time to Think:

The man told to her (a) / that he had not brought his dog (b) / out for a walk as he was afraid that it would rain. (c)