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Fill in the blanks

Q.No: 1
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

The best punctuation is that of which the reader is least conscious; for when punctuation, or lack of it, ___ itself, it is usually because it ___.

A
obtrudes ... offends
B
enjoins ... fails
C
conceals ... recedes
D
effaces ... counts
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
The first part talks about how punctuation should be. The second part gives reasons for it. If punctuation makes the reader ‘least conscious’ then it should be least ‘obtruding’.
Q.No: 2
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

The argument that the need for a looser fiscal policy to ___ demand outweighs the need to ___ budget deficits is persuasive.

A
assess ... minimize
B
outstrip ... eliminate
C
stimulate ... control
D
restrain ... conceal
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
‘stimulate’ and ‘control’ should be on almost opposite tangents as the passage talks of why a looser fiscal policy is better than the ‘control’ of budget.
Q.No: 3
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

The Athenians on the whole were peaceful and prosperous; they had ___ to sit at home and think about the universe and dispute with Socrates, or to travel abroad and ___ the world.

A
leisure ... explore
B
time ... ignore
C
ability ... suffer
D
temerity ... understand
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
‘leisure’ and ‘explore’ go with ‘peaceful and prosperous’. (2) is wrong because when you ‘travel abroad’ you don’t ‘ignore’ the world. (3) is obviously wrong — you don’t ‘suffer’ the world. (4) is wrong as ‘temerity’ means audacity.
Q.No: 4
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

Their achievement in the field of literature is described as ___; sometimes it is even called ___.

A
magnificent ... irresponsible
B
insignificant ... influential
C
significant ... paltry
D
unimportant ... trivial
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
Reading this sentence tells us that the second blank has to be of a slightly higher degree but on the same theme. Only (4) fits this criterion.
Q.No: 5
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

From the time she had put her hair up, every man she had met had grovelled before her and she had acquired a mental attitude toward the other sex which was a blend of ___ and ___.

A
admiration ... tolerance
B
indifference ... contempt
C
impertinence ... temperance
D
arrogance ... fidelity
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
If men had groveled before her then her attitude would definitely be negative.
Q.No: 6
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

This simplified ___ to the decision-making process is a must read for anyone ___ important real estate, personal, or professional decisions.

A
primer ... maximizing
B
tract ... enacting
C
introduction ... under
D
guide ... facing
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
The second blank cannot be filled by any other choice other than ‘facing’.
Q.No: 7
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

Physicians may soon have ___ to help paralysed people move their limbs by bypassing the ___ nerves that once controlled their muscles.

A
instruments ... detrimental
B
ways ... damaged
C
reason ... involuntary
D
impediments ... complex
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
Again the second blank can only be filled by ‘damaged’.
Q.No: 8
Test Name : CAT Paper 2003 (R)
Directions for questions 43 to 50: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should fill the first gap.

The Internet is a medium where users have nearly ___ choices and ___ constraints about where to go and what to do.

A
unbalanced ... non-existent
B
embarrassing ... no
C
unlimited ... minimal
D
choking ... shockinge
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
The two blanks should have contrasting words as ‘choices’ and ‘constraints’ are also contrasting. (3) fits in.
Q.No: 9
Test Name : CAT Paper 1990
Questions 1 to 5 : Each of the following questions has one or more blank spaces indicating where a word / words has been left out. Following each sentence, four words or sets of words lettered a to d have been given. You have to select the appropriate word or set of words to make the sentence most meaningful.

The __________, those cellular bodies which contain the __________ particles, the genes, provide us with basic facts of genetic transmission.

A
protoplasm, microscopic
B
globules, fat
C
cytoplasm, minute
D
chromosomes, hereditary
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles, making d. the right option.
Q.No: 10
Test Name : CAT Paper 1990
Questions 1 to 5 : Each of the following questions has one or more blank spaces indicating where a word / words has been left out. Following each sentence, four words or sets of words lettered a to d have been given. You have to select the appropriate word or set of words to make the sentence most meaningful.

The insurance claim was __________ by the relevant documents

A
sustained
B
backed in
C
backed
D
proved
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
‘Backed’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.
Q.No: 11
Test Name : CAT Paper 1990
Questions 1 to 5 : Each of the following questions has one or more blank spaces indicating where a word / words has been left out. Following each sentence, four words or sets of words lettered a to d have been given. You have to select the appropriate word or set of words to make the sentence most meaningful.

I should not have __________ to talk in such a __________ strain especially when I had not studied the man to whom I was talking.

A
daring, commanding
B
try, bold
C
ventured, peremptory
D
emboldened, reckless
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.
Q.No: 12
Test Name : CAT Paper 1990
Questions 1 to 5 : Each of the following questions has one or more blank spaces indicating where a word / words has been left out. Following each sentence, four words or sets of words lettered a to d have been given. You have to select the appropriate word or set of words to make the sentence most meaningful.

High prices are often the __________ of __________ of goods.

A
accompaniment, dearth
B
concomitant, scarcity
C
cause, destitution
D
result, glut
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
Q.No: 13
Test Name : CAT Paper 1990
Questions 1 to 5 : Each of the following questions has one or more blank spaces indicating where a word / words has been left out. Following each sentence, four words or sets of words lettered a to d have been given. You have to select the appropriate word or set of words to make the sentence most meaningful.

The recent disturbances in the country will __________ and peace will be restored.

A
blow past
B
blow over
C
pass through
D
come to pass
Answer key/Solution
Solution:
The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which means to fade away without serious consequences).
Solution:
The first part talks about how punctuation should be. The second part gives reasons for it. If punctuation makes the reader ‘least conscious’ then it should be least ‘obtruding’.

Solution:
‘stimulate’ and ‘control’ should be on almost opposite tangents as the passage talks of why a looser fiscal policy is better than the ‘control’ of budget.

Solution:
‘leisure’ and ‘explore’ go with ‘peaceful and prosperous’. (2) is wrong because when you ‘travel abroad’ you don’t ‘ignore’ the world. (3) is obviously wrong — you don’t ‘suffer’ the world. (4) is wrong as ‘temerity’ means audacity.

Solution:
Reading this sentence tells us that the second blank has to be of a slightly higher degree but on the same theme. Only (4) fits this criterion.

Solution:
If men had groveled before her then her attitude would definitely be negative.

Solution:
The second blank cannot be filled by any other choice other than ‘facing’.

Solution:
Again the second blank can only be filled by ‘damaged’.

Solution:
The two blanks should have contrasting words as ‘choices’ and ‘constraints’ are also contrasting. (3) fits in.

Solution:
The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles, making d. the right option.

Solution:
‘Backed’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.

Solution:
Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.

Solution:

Solution:
The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which means to fade away without serious consequences).

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