SM1001941 Part-II PDF

VOCABULARY
INTRODUCTION
Vocabulary plays an important role in one’s ability to The word ‘misanthrope’ has ‘anthrop’ as its root and
express oneself and understand others. The greater the therefore the word evidently has something to do with
number of words that one is familiar with, the better ‘man’ or ‘human’. The prefix ‘mis’ is a negative prefix.
placed one is to be articulate and cogent in what one Thus we have words like ‘mishap’, ‘misunderstanding’,
communicates. ‘misdemeanour’, ‘mistake’ etc that are all negative
words. Misanthrope is also a negative word and refers to
Vocabulary is one of the test areas in MBA entrance a person who hates mankind. Knowledge of the meaning
examinations like the CAT. Performance on vocabulary- of the root word ‘anthrop’ and the prefix ‘mis’ will ensure
based questions, among other things, is considered a that one need not remember the meaning of the word
good indicator of the candidate’s comfort level with the ‘misanthrope’. You can derive the meaning of the word
language. Vocabulary-based questions on MBA using your knowledge of the root word and prefix.
entrance examinations, test candidates on their
knowledge of words that are normally not used in Knowledge of the root word ‘anthrop’ is handy when
everyday conversations and on nuances of common dealing with ‘anthropomorphic’ also. The root word
words. Candidates are also tested on vocabulary in other ‘morph’ refers to form or shape (other words with this
test areas like Reading Comprehension. Reading root word are ‘morphology’, ‘amorphous’,
Comprehension passages often contain difficult words, ‘metamorphosis’). Thus one can safely conclude that the
an understanding of which is critical to gaining an word ‘anthropomorphic’ means ‘like a human being’, or
understanding the meaning of a statement or an idea ‘humanlike’ or ‘having the attributes of a human being’.
expressed in the passage. These examinations make it In fact this is very close to the dictionary definition of the
imperative to undertake an exercise in vocabulary word (suggesting human characteristics).
building so that one is able to do well on the vocabulary-
based questions. Thus the knowledge of one root word helps us derive the
meaning of several words. This certainly goes a long
way in simplifying the task of learning and recollecting
Vocabulary building
the meanings of words.
Most of us have at some point of time or the other, tried
Prefixes and suffixes
our hand at vocabulary building. Most have us have
possibly given up overwhelmed by the enormity of the Prefixes and suffixes are also useful in learning and
task and also because words are so notoriously hard to remembering the meanings of words.
remember. However, vocabulary-building need not be an
exercise in futility. Success hinges on having a sensible A prefix is an incomplete word that is placed at the
and realistic plan and working systematically. beginning of a word to change its meaning. Take for
example the prefix ‘pre’. ‘Pre’ is a Latin word that means
Refer to ‘Adding New Words’ and ‘Revising Words before. Therefore we have words like ‘premonition’,
Already Learnt’ from the introductory note in Verbal ‘presage’ and ‘prescient’. If one knows the meaning of
Ability Study Material. the prefix ‘pre’, one can guess intelligently at the
meaning of these words. Prefixes are extensively used
Words should never be learnt by rote. Words learnt that to coin antonyms of words (e.g. the Latin prefix ‘non’
way are easily forgotten. One of the best ways to learn which means ‘not’).
new words, and more importantly remember them is by
learning roots, prefixes and suffixes. A suffix is an incomplete word part that is placed at the
end of a word to change its meaning. Take for example,
Roots, prefixes and suffixes the Greek suffix ‘logy’ which means ‘study’, ‘theory’,
‘science’ etc. Thus there are words like ‘biology’,
Roots ‘anthropology’, ‘sociology’ etc that refer to the study of
certain domains.
A large number of words in the English language have
been coined from Greek and Latin words. Knowledge of It is clear from the above that knowledge of root words,
these root words is useful when learning words. Root prefixes and suffixes is essential to building a good
words contain the core meaning of the word. Consider vocabulary. You will find a list of root words in this
for example the Greek root word ‘anthrop’. ‘Anthrop’ booklet. Study these root words and the words that are
derived from them systematically. Ensure that you revise
means ‘human’. From this Greek word is derived English
these frequently in order to ensure better retention. You
words like ‘misanthrope’, ‘philanthropy’, anthropology
will also find vocabulary based questions in this booklet.
etc. If one is aware of the meaning of the root word
After you have gone through all the root words, answer
‘anthrop’ one can easily work out the meaning of all
these questions. Use your knowledge of root words to
those words that have ‘anthrop’ as its core. Thus
derive the meaning of the words you come across.
knowledge of root words frees us from the need to
memorise words. One just needs to remember the You should plan to learn about ten root words a day.
meanings of root words, and then use this knowledge to Revise the root words that you learnt over the previous
derive the meanings of words. Let us take a few days. This will help you remember these root words
examples. better.
Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd. (T.I.M.E.) HO: 95B, 2nd Floor, Siddamsetty Complex, Secunderabad – 500 003.
Tel : 040–27898195 Fax : 040–27847334 email : info@time4education.com website : www.time4education.com SM1001941/63
CHAPTER - I
PREFIXES
In this chapter, some of the most commonly used prefixes are given. Corresponding to the prefix in the first column, its
meaning is given in the second column. Given in the third column are words (and their meanings) that contain the
corresponding prefix given in the first column.
ab, abs from, away from ABDUCT lead away, kidnap

ABJURE renounce
ABJECT degraded
ABROGATE abolish
ABSTAIN to keep from
ABSCOND run away
ABNORMAL away from normal
ad, ac, af, ag, an, ap, ar, to, forward ADIT entrance
as, at ADJURE request earnestly
ADMIT allow entrance
ACCORD agreement, harmony
ACCRETION addition
ACCRUE to add
AFFLICTION distress
AGGREGATION collection
ANNEXATION add to
APPARITION ghost
ARRAIGNMENT indictment
ASSUMPTION arrogance, the taking
for granted
ATTENDANCE presence, the persons
present
ambi, amphi both AMBIDEXTROUS skilled with both

hands
AMBIGUOUS of double meaning
AMBIVALENT having two conflicting
emotions
AMPHIBIOUS leading double lives
an, a without AGNOSTIC without belief in god

AMORPHOUS without any shape
AMORAL without moral sense
ANARCHY lack of government
ANAEMIA lack of blood
APATHY without feeling
indifferent
ATYPICAL not typical
ante before ANTECEDENT preceding event or

word
ANTEDILUVIAN ancient
ANTE-NUPTIAL before the wedding
anti against, opposite ANTAGONIZE oppose

ANTIBIOTIC substance working
against organisms
ANTIDOTE substance against a
poison
ANTIPATHY hatred
ANTISEPTIC against infection
ANTITHETICAL exactly opposite
apo away, from, off APOSTATE one who stands away

from or forsakes faith
APOGEE farthest point away
from the earth
arch chief, first ARCHETYPE original
ARCHBISHOP chief bishop
ARCHAEOLOGY study of first or
ancient times
be over, thoroughly BEDAUB smear over

BEFUDDLE confuse thoroughly
BEGUILE deceive, charm
thoroughly
bene well BENEVOLENCE good will
bi two BICAMERAL composed of two

houses
BIENNIAL every two years
BICYCLE two-wheeled vehicle
BIGAMY being married to two
people at the same
time
BINOCULARS two additional eyes
cata down CATASTROPHE disaster

CATARACT waterfall
CATAPULT hurl (throw down)
circum around CIRCUMNAVIGATE sail around

CIRCUMSPECT cautious (looking
around)
CIRCUMSCRIBE limit (place a circle
around)
CIRCUMLOCUTION round about way of
saying things
com, co, col, con, cor with, together COMMERCE trade with
COEDITOR joint editor
COLLATERAL subordinate,
connected
CORROBORATE confirm
CONCURRENCE agreement
CONTEMPORANEOUS happening at the
same time together
CONVIVIAL living, dining together,
hence joyous festive
contra, contro against CONTRAVENE conflict with

CONTROVERSY dispute
COUNTERPOISE a weight set against
another
COUNTERMAND order against
de down, away DEBASE lower in value

DECADENCE deterioration
DECANT pour off
DEMOLISH destruction, tear down
DETER move away
demi partly, half DEMIGOD partly divine being
di two DICHOTOMY division into two parts

DILEMMA choice between two
bad alternatives
dia across DIAGONAL across a figure
DIAMETER distance across a
circle
DIAGRAM outline drawing
DIAPHANOUS which can be seen
through or across
dis, dif not, apart DISCORD lack of harmony

DIFFER disagree (carry apart)
DISPARITY condition of inequality;
difference
DISSOLUTION breaking up of an
assembly
DISSENSION not going together,
disagreement in
opinion
DIFFIDENT not to be trusted
dys faulty, bad DYSLEXIA faulty ability to read

DYSPEPSIA indigestion
DYSTROPHY wasting of muscles
en, em in within ENCAUSTIC burnt in, having the
colour fixed by heat
epi on, upon EPITAPH an inscription as on a
gravestone
eu well EUPHONY on agreeable sound

EUPHORIA a sense of well-being
EUPEPTIC having good digestion
EUGENICS the science of race
improvement
EULOGY praise
ex, e out EXPEL drive out

EXTIRPATE root out
EJECT throw out
extra, extro beyond, outside EXTRACURRICULAR beyond the curriculum

EXTRATERRITORIAL beyond a nation's
bounds
EXTROVERT person interested
chiefly in external
objects and actions
hyper above; excessively HYPERBOLE exaggeration

HYPERCRITIC one who is excessively
critic
HYPEREMESIS excess vomiting
HYPERTENSION high blood pressure
HYPERVENTILATE breathe at an excessive
rate
hypo beneath, lower HYPOGLYCAEMIA low blood sugar

HYPOCRISY concealment of true
character or belief
HYPOTHESIS proposition assumed for
the sake of argument
in, il, im, ir not INARTICULATE not clear or distinct

INCORRIGIBLE which cannot be
corrected
INEFFICIENT not efficient
ILLEGIBLE not readable
ILLICIT not lawful
ILLOGICAL not logical
IMPECCABLE not capable of shining;
flawless
IMMORTAL without death
IGNOBLE not worthy
INOPPORTUNE not timely ; poorly
chosen
IMPOTENT not effective; weak
IMPLACABLE not capable of being
pacified
INCONGRUITY without harmony;
absurdity
IRREVOCABLE not able to be called
back
IRREPRESSIBLE not capable of being
held back
IRREMEDIABLE not capable of being
corrected
IRREFRAGABLE not to be disproved
in, il, im, ir in, on, upon INVITE call in

ILLUSTRATION something that makes
clear
IMPRESSION effect upon mind or
feelings
IRRADIATE shine upon
IMBIBE take into, absorb into
INSCRIPTION that which written upon
something like stone
etc.
inter between, among INTERVENE come between

INTERNATIONAL between nations
INTERJECTION a statement thrown in
intra, intro within INTRAMURAL within a school

INTROVERT person who turns within
himself
macro large, long MACROBIOTIC tending to prolong life

MACROCOSM the great world
mega great, million MEGALOMANIA delusions of grandeur

MEGATON explosive force of a
million tons of TNT
meta involving change METAMORPHOSIS change of form

METEMPSYCHOSIS the passing of soul
after death into some
other body
METAPLASIA tissue transformation as
of cartilage into bone
micro small MICROCOSM miniature universe

MICROBE minute organism
MICROSCOPIC extremely small
mis bad, improper MISDEMEANOUR minor crime; bad

conduct
MISCHANCE unfortunate accident
MISNOMER wrong name
mis hatred MISANTHROPE person hates man kind
woman-hater
MISOGYNIST
mono one MONARCHY government by one ruler

belief in one god
MONOTHEISM a pillar or column of a
MONOLITH single stone
a composition
MONOLOGUE intended to be spoken by
single person
sole power or privilege of
dealing in anything
MONOPOLY the rule or custom of
marriage to one wife or
husband at a time
MONOGAMY the worship of one god
without excluding the
belief in others
MONOLATRY having a single set of
teeth
MONOPHYODONT
multi many MULTIFARIOUS having many parts

MULTITUDINOUS numerous
MULTILINGUAL pertaining to many
languages
neo new NEOLOGISM newly coined word

NEOPHYTE beginner; novice
NEONATAL pertaining to the newly
born
non not NONCOMMITTAL undecided

NONENTITY person of no importance
ob, oc, of, op against OBLOQUY infamy; disgrace

OBTRUDE push into prominence
OCCLUDE close; block out
OFFEND insult
OPPONENT someone who
struggles against; foe
olig few OLIGARCHY government by a few
omni all OMNIVOROUS eating everything

OMNIPOTENT all powerful
OMNISCIENT knowing everything
pan all, every PANACEA cure-all

PANORAMA unobstructed view in all
directions
PANDEMIC incident to a whole
people
PANDEMONIUM everything in very
disorderly manner
para beyond, related PARALLEL similar

PARAPHRASE restate; translate
per, pel through, completely PERMEABLE allowing passage through

spread throughout
PERVADE travelling about
PEREGRINATION completely or
PELLUCID perfectly clear
peri around, near PERIPATETIC walking around from

place to place
PERIPHRASTIC stated in a
roundabout way
poly many POLYGAMIST person with several

spouses
POLYGLOT speaking several
languages
POLYCHROME many coloured
POLYARCHY a government by many
persons
POLYGENESIS multiple origin especially
of man kind
post after POSTERITY generations that follow

after death
POSTHUMOUS a part added to a letter
POST SCRIPT after signature
after dinner
POST PRANDIAL
pre, pro before PREAMBLE introductory statement

forewarning
PREMONITION an event preceding and
PRELUDE leading to another of
greater importance
before birth
a forecasting
PRENATAL a speech before play
PROGNOSIS to bring or draw forward;
PROLOGUE to protrude
PROTRACT
prim first PRIMORDIAL existing at the dawn

of time
PRIMOGENITURE state of being the first
born
PRIMEVAL belonging to first ages
PRIMITIVE belonging to the
beginning or to the
first times
pro forward, in favour of PROPULSIVE driving forward

PROPONENT supporter
proto first PROTOTYPE first of its kind

pseudo false PSEUDONYM pen name
re again, back REITERATE repeat
REIMBURSE pay back
retro backward RETROSPECT looking back; a

backward view
RETROACTIVE effective as of a past
date
RETROGRESS backward movement
se away, side SECEDE withdraw

SECLUDE shut away
SEDUCE lead astray
semi half, partly SEMIANNUAL every six months

SEMICONSCIOUS partly conscious
sub, suc, suf, sug, sup, sus under, less SUBWAY underground road
SUBJUGATE bring under control
SUCCUMB yield; cease to resist
SUFFUSE spread through
SUGGEST hint
SUPPRESS put down by force
SUSPEND delay
SUBCUTANEOUS under the skin
super, sur, supra over, above SUPERNATURAL above natural things
SUPERVISE oversee
SURTAX additional tax
SUPEREROGATORY doing more than is
required
syn, sym, syl, sys with, together SYNCHRONIZE time together

SYNTHESIZE combine together
SYMPATHIZE pity ; identify with
SYLLOGISM explanation of how
ideas relate
SYNDROME symptoms occurring
together or happening
concurrently
SYMPOSIUM meeting or a
conference where
many people come
together
tele far TELEMETRY measurement from a
distance
TELEGRAPHIC communicated over
difference
trans across TRANSPOSE reverse, move across

TRANSMIGRATION the passing of the
soul into another body
a doze or stupor, as if
TRANCE passing beyond life
tri three TRIAD a group of three

TRIPTYCH three pictures or
carvings on folding
panels placed side by
side
TRAMMEL a net of three layers
which can enmesh
the feet
ultra beyond, excessive ULTRAMODERN excessively modern

ULTRACRITICAL exceedingly critical
un not UNFEIGNED not pretended; real

UNKEMPT not combed;
dishevelled
UNWITTING not knowing;
unintentional
under below UNDERGIRD strengthen

underneath
UNDERLING someone inferior
uni one UNISON oneness of pitch;

complete accord
UNICYCLE one-wheeled vehicle
UNIQUE one of its kind
vice in place of VICARIOUS acting as a substitute

VICEROY governor acting in
place of a king
with away, against WITHHOLD hold back; keep

WITHSTAND stand up against;
resist
WITHDRAW take back
CHAPTER - II
SUFFIXES
In this chapter, some of the most commonly used suffixes are given. Corresponding to the suffix in the first column, its
corresponding suffix given in the first column.
able, ible capable of (adjective POTABLE which can be drunk

suffix) PORTABLE able to be carried
INTERMINABLE not able to be limited
LEGIBLE able to be read
ac, ic like, pertaining to (adj. CARDIAC pertaining to the heart

suffix) AQUATIC pertaining to the water
DRAMATIC pertaining to the
drama
aclous, iclous full of (adj. suffix) AUDACIOUS full of dareness

PERSPICACIOUS full of mental
perception
AVARICIOUS full of greed
al pertaining to (adj or MANIACAL insane

noun suffix) LOGICAL pertaining to logic
ant, ent full of (adj. or noun ELOQUENT pertaining to fluid,

suffix) effective speech
SUPPLIANT pleader
VERDANT green
ary like, connected with DICTIONARY book connected with

(adj. or noun suffix) words
HONORARY with honour
LUMINARY celestial body
ate to make (verb suffix) CONSECRATE to make holy

ENERVATE to make weary
MITIGATE to make less severe
ation that which is (noun EXASPERATION

suffix) IRRITATION
cy state of being (noun DEMOCRACY government ruled by

suffix) the people
OBSTINACY stubbornness
ACCURACY correctness
eer, er, or person who (noun MUTINEER person who rebels

suffix) LECHER person who lusts
CENSOR person who deletes
improper remarks
escent becoming (adj. suffix) EVANESCENT tending to vanish

PUBESCENT arriving at puberty
fic making, doing (adj. TERRIFIC arousing great fear

suffix) SOPORIFIC causing sleep
fy to make (verb suffix) PETRIFY turn to stone

BEAUTIFY make beautiful
iferous producing, bearing (adj. PESTIFEROUS carrying disease

suffix) VOCIFEROUS bearing a loud voice
il, ile pertaining to, capable PUERILE pertaining to a boy or
of (adj. suffix) child
DUCTILE capable of being
CIVIL hammered
polite
ism doctrine, belief (noun MONOTHEISM belief in one god

suffix) FANATICISM excessive zeal;
extreme belief
ist dealer, door (noun FASCIST one who believes in a

suffix) fascist state
ity state of being (noun ANNUITY yearly grant

suffix) CREDULITY state of being unduly
willing to believe
SAGACITY wisdom
ive like (adj. suffix) EXPENSIVE costly

QUANTITATIVE concerned with
quantity
EFFUSIVE gushing
ize, ise make (verb suffix) VICTIMIZE make a victim of

RATIONALIZE make rational
HARMONIZE make harmonious
ENFRANCHISE make free or set free
oid resembling, like (adj. OVOID like an egg

suffix) ANTHROPOID resembling man
SPHEROID resembling a sphere
ose full of (adj. suffix) VERBOSE full of words
osis condition (noun suffix) PSYCHOSIS diseased mental

condition
NEUROSIS nervous condition
HYPNOSIS condition of induced
sleep
ous full of (adj. suffix) NAUSEOUS full of nausea

LUDICROUS foolish
tude state of (noun suffix) FORTITUDE state of strength

BEATITUDE state of blessedness
CERTITUDE state of sureness
CHAPTER - III
COMMON ROOTS
In this chapter, some of the most commonly used Roots are given. Corresponding to the Root in the first column, its
corresponding Root given in the first column.
ac, acr sharp ACRIMONIOUS bitter, caustic

ACERBITY bitterness of temper
ACIDULATE to make somewhat acid
or sour
aev, ev age, era PRIMEVAL of the first age

COEVAL of the same age or era
MEDIEVAL or of the middle ages
MEDIAEVAL
agog leader DEMAGOGUE false leader of people

PEDAGOGUE teacher (leader of
children)
agaro to discuss or speak PANEGYRIC formal praise
ali another ALIAS assumed (another)

name
ALIENATE estrange (turn away
from another)
alt high ALTITUDE height

ALTIMETER instrument for
measuring height
alter other ALTRUISTIC unselfish, considering

ALTER EGO others
a second self
am love AMOROUS loving, especially

sexually
AMITY friendship
AMICABLE friendly
anim mind, soul ANIMADVERT cast criticism upon

UNANIMOUS of one mind
MAGNANIMITY greatness of mind or
spirit
ann, enn year ANNUITY yearly remittance

BIENNIAL every two years
PERENNIAL present all years;
praising for several
years
anthrop man ANTHROPOLOGY study of man

MISANTHROPE hater of mankind
PHILANTHROPY love of mankind; charity
apt fit APTITUDE skill

APT suitable
aqua water AQUEDUCT passageway for

conducting water
AQUA FORTIS nitric acid (strong water)
arch ruler, first ARCHAEOLOGY study of antiquities

(study of first things)
MONARCH sole ruler
ANARCHY lack of government
aster star ASTRONOMY study of the stars

ASTERIK star-like type
character (*)
DISASTER catastrophe (contrary
star)
aud, audit hear AUDIBLE able to be heard

AUDITORIUM place where people
may be heard
AUDIENCE hearers
auto self
AUTOCRACY rule by one person
(self)
AUTOMOBILE vehicle that moves by
itself
AUTOBIOGRAPHY story of one's own life
AUTONOMY the power or right of self
government
AUTOMATION a self moving machine
belli war BELLICOSE inclined to fight

BELLIGERENT inclined to wage war
REBELLIOUS resisting authority
ben, bon good BENEFACTOR one who does good

deeds
BENEVOLENCE charity (wishing good)
something extra above
BONUS regular pay
biblio book BIBLIOGRAPHY list of books

BIBLIOPHILE lover of books
BIBLE The Book
bio life BIOGRAPHY writing about a person's

life
BIOLOGY study of living things
BIOCHEMIST student of the chemistry
of living things
breve short BREVITY briefness

ABBREVIATE shorten
BREVILOQUENT marked by brevity of
speech
bucolics a herdsman BUCOLIC pertaining to the tending

cattle, rustic, countrified
cad, cas to fall DECADENT deteriorating

CADENCE intonation, musical
movement
CASCADE waterfall
cap, capt, cept, cip to take CAPTURE seize

PARTICIPATE take part
PRECEPT wise saying (originally a
command)
capit, capt head DECAPITATE remove (cut off)

someone's head
CAPTAIN chief
carn flesh CARNIVOROUS flesh-eating
CARNAGE destruction of life
CARNAL fleshly
ced, cess to yield, to go RECEDE go back, withdraw
ANTECEDENT that which goes before
go forward
PROCESS
cele swift CELERITY swiftness

DECELERATE reduce swiftness
ACCELERATE increase swiftness
cent one hundred CENTURY one hundred years

CENTENNIAL hundredth anniversary
CENTIPEDE many-footed, wingless
animal
chron time CHRONOLOGY time-table of events

ANACHRONISM a thing out of time
sequence
CHRONICLE register events in order
of time
clan secret CLANDESTINE secret, something done

in a sly manner
cid, cis to cut, to kill INCISION a cut (surgical)

HOMICIDE killing of a man
FRATRICIDE killing of a brother
INFANTICIDE killing of an infant
PESTICIDE that which kills pests
UXORICIDE killing of wife
SORORICIDE killing of a sister
cit, citat to call, to start INCITE stir up, start up

EXCITE stir up
RECITATION a recalling (or
repeating) aloud
civi citizen CIVILIZATION society of citizens,

culture
CIVILIAN member of community
CIVIL courteous
clam, clamat to cry out CLAMOROUS loud

DECLAMATION speech
ACCLAMATION shouted approval
claud, claus, clos, clud to close CLAUSTROPHOBIA fear of closed places

CONCLUDE finish
clavis key ENCLAVE territory locked within a

foreign country
CONCLAVE meeting held in a
closed room
cognosc, cognit to learn AGNOSTIC lacking knowledge,

skeptical
INCOGNITO travelling in assumed
name
COGNITION knowledge
compl to fill COMPLEMENT that which completes

something
COMPLY fulfil
cord heart ACCORD agreement (from the

heart)
CORDIAL friendly
DISCORD lack of harmony
corpor body INCORPORATE organize into a body
CORPOREAL pertaining to the body,
fleshly
CORPSE dead body
cracy rule THEOCRACY that constitution of state

in which god is
regarded as sole
sovereign
GERONTOCRACY government by old men.
government by the
PLUTOCRACY wealthy
a system of government
BUREAUCRACY by officials, responsible
only to their
departmental chief
government by women
mob rule
GYNAECOCRACY government by the
worst
OCHLOCRACY a form of government in
KAKISTOCRACY which property is the
quality for office
TIMOCRACY
cred, credit to believe INCREDULOUS not believing, skeptical

gullibility
CREDULITY belief
CREDENCE
culpa fault, blame EXCULPATE free from blame

CULPABLE which can be punished
one who is at fault
CULPRIT
cur to care CURATOR person who has the

care of something
SINECURE position without
responsibility
SECURE safe
curr, curs to run EXCURSION journey

CURSORY brief
PRECURSOR forerunner
da, dat to give DATA facts, statistics

MANDATE command
DATE given time
deb, debit to owe DEBT something owed

INDEBTEDNESS debt
DEBENTURE bond
dem people DEMOCRACY rule of the people

DEMAGOGUE (false) leader of the
people
EPIDEMIC widespread (among the
people)
derm skin EPIDERMIS skin

PACHYDERM thick-skinned
quadruped
DERMATOLOGY study of skin and its
disorders
detergere to rub or DETERGENT a cleansing agent
wipe away TERCE that which is smooth or
clean-cut
di, diurn day DIARY a daily record of
activities, feelings etc.
DIURNAL pertaining to daytime
dic, dict to say ABDICATE renounce

DICTION speech
doc, doct to teach DOCILE obedient; easily taught

DOCUMENT something that provides
evidence
DOCTOR learned person
(originally teacher)
domin to rule DOMINATE have power over

DOMAIN land under rule
DOMINANT prevailing
dour hard, severe, sour OBDURATE hard to move; obstinate

(in appearance) under threat or coercion
DURESS morally hardened or
callous
INDURATED
dubit doubt INDUBITABLY doubtlessly
duc, duct to lead VIADUCT arched roadway

AQUEDUCT artificial waterway
dynam power, strength DYNAMIC powerful

DYNAMITE powerful explosive
DYNAMO engine making electrical
power
ego I EGOIST person who is self-

interested
EGOTIST selfish person
EGOCENTRIC revolving about self
erg, urg work ENERGY power

ERGATOCRACY rule of the workers
err to wander ERROR mistake

ERRATIC not reliable, wandering
wandering knight
KNIGHT-ERRANT
eu good, well, beautiful EUPEPTIC having good digestion

EULOGIZE praise
EUPHEMISM substitution of pleasant
way of saying
something blunt
fac, fic, fec, fect to make, to do FACTORY place where things are
made
FICTION manufactured story
AFFECT cause to change
fall, fals to deceive FALLACIOUS misleading

INFALLIBLE not prone to error,
perfect
FALSIFY lie
fer, lat to bring, to bear TRANSLATE bring from one

language to another
CONIFER bearing cones, as pine
trees
fiat, fac, fig, fy, fact, fect to do or make FACTIOUS making trouble, causing
nd
Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd. (T.I.M.E.) HO: 95B, 2 Floor, Siddamsetty Complex, Secunderabad – 500 003.
dissension
FACTITIOUS made up or artificial,
spurious
SURFEIT overdoing, an excess
FETISH blind or unreasoning
affection; something
regarded with irrational
FEASIBLE reverence
MALFEASANCE practicable, workable
wrong doing especially
official misconduct
INDEFEASIBLE which cannot be
defeated or undone
fid belief, faith INFIDEL nonbeliever, heathen

CONFIDENCE assurance, belief
fin end, limit CONFINE keep within limits

FINITE having definite limits
flect, flex bend FLEXIBLE able to bend

DEFLECT bend away, turn aside
GENUFLECT to bend knees in prayer
fort strong FORTUITOUS strength, firmness of

mind
FORTIFICATION strengthening
FORTRESS stronghold
fort luck, chance FORTUITOUS accidental, occurring by

FORTUNATE chance lucky
frag, fract break FRAGILE easily broken

INFRACTION breaking of a rule
FRACTIOUS unruly, tending to break
rules
REFRACT to deflect, to break
fugere flee FUGITIVE someone who flees

REFUGE shelter, home for
someone fleeing
fus pour EFFUSIVE gushing, pouring out

DIFFUSE widespread (poured in
many directions)
gam marriage MONOGAMY marriage to one person

marriage to two people
BIGAMY at the same time
having many wives or
husbands at the same
POLYGAMY time
gen, gener class, race GENUS group of animals with

similar traits
GENERIC characteristic of a class
class organized by sex
GENDER
gen to give birth to GENE unit or factor of
heredity
CONGENITAL existing from birth
GENEALOGY study of the family
tree
PSYCHOGENIC born in or caused by the
mind
grad, gress go, step DIGRESS to astray (from the
main point)
REGRESS go backwards
GRADUAL step by step, by
degrees
graph, gram writing EPIGRAM pithy statement

TELEGRAM instantaneous message
over great
distance
STENOGRAPHY shorthand (writing
narrowly)
greg flock, herd GREGARIOUS tending to group

together as in a herd
EGREGIOUS conspicuously bad;
shocking
helio sun HELIOTROPE flower that faces the

sun
HELIOGRAPH instrument that uses the
sun's rays to send
signals
hemera day EPHEMERAL short lived
icon image, a statue ICONOCLAST one who attacks

cherished beliefs or one
who does not respect
conventional ideas
it, itiner journey, road EXIT way out

ITINERARY plan of journey
jac, jact, jec to throw PROJECTILE missile; something

thrown forward
TRAJECTORY path taken by thrown
object
EJACULATORY casting or throwing
out
jur, jurat to swear PERJURE testify falsely

JURY group of men and
women sworn to seek
the truth
ADJURATION solemn urging
labor, laborat to work COLLABORATE work together with

others
LABORIOUS difficult
leg, lect, lig to choose, to read ELECTION choice

LEGIBLE able to read
ELIGIBLE able to be selected
leg law LEGISLATURE law-making body

LEGITIMATE lawful
LEGAL lawful
liber, libr Book LIBRETTO the "book" of a musical

play
LIBEL slander (originally found
in a little book)
liber free LIBERATION the fact of setting free

LIBERAL generous (giving freely);
tolerant
log word, study ENTOMOLOGY study of insects

nd
ETYMOLOGY study of word parts and
derivations
MONOLOGUE speech by one person
loqu, locut to talk SOLILOQUY speech by one

individual
LOQUACIOUS talkative
ELOCUTION speech
luc light ELUCIDATE enlighten

LUCID clear
TRANSLUCENT allowing some light to
pass through
magn great MAGNIFY enlarge

MAGNANIMITY generosity, greatness of
soul
mal bad MALEVOLENT wishing evil

MALEDICTION curse
MALEFACTOR evil-doer
MALIGNANT disposed to do harm
man hand MANUSCRIPT written by hand

EMANCIPATE free (let go from the
hand)
mar sea MARITIME connected with

seafaring
SUBMARINE undersea craft
MARINER seaman
mater, matr mother MATERNAL pertaining to

motherhood
MATRIARCH female ruler of a family,
group, or state
MATRILINEAL descended on the
mother's side
mendicus poor man MENDICANT beggar
mens measure MENSURATION the act of finding by

measurement and
calculation, the length,
area, volume of bodies
that which cannot be
IMMEASURABILITY measured
mit, miss to send MISSILE projectile

TRANSMIT send across
mime an actor who mimics or MIMESIS imitation

imitates PANTOMIME acting that is
unaccompanied by
words
mob, mot, mov move MOBILIZE cause to move

MOTILITY ability to move
IMMOVABLE not able to be moved
mon, monit to warn ADMONISH warn

PREMONITION foreboding
MONITOR watcher (warner)
mori, mort to die MORTUARY funeral parlour

MORIBUND dying
IMMORTAL not dying
morph shape, form ANTHROPOMORPHIC in the shape of man
mut change IMMUTABLE not able to be changed

undergo a great change
MUTATE changeableness,
inconsistency
MUTABILITY
nat born INNATE from birth

NATIVITY birth
nav ship CIRCUMNAVIGATE sail around the world

NAVAL pertaining to ships
neg deny NEGATION denial

RENEGE deny, go back on one's
word
RENEGADE turncoat, traitor
nomen name NOMENCLATURE act of naming,

terminology
NOMINAL in name only (as
opposed to actual)
surname, distinguishing
COGNOMEN nickname
nov new NOVICE beginner

RENOVATE make new again
NOVELTY newness
oikos dwelling ECOLOGY a study of plants or

animals or of people
and institutions in
relation to environment
general, universal
ECUMENIC study of house hold
ECONOMICS management
onoma, onyma name ANONYMOUS unnamed

HOMONYM a word having the same
sound and perhaps the
same spelling as
another but different
meaning and origin
the formation of a word
ONOMATOPOEIA in limitation of the
sound of the thing
meant
a play upon words
PARONOMASIA derived from the name
PATRONYMIC of a father or an
ancestor
a fictitious name
PSEUDONYM assumed
a word from the same
PARONYM root or having the same
sound as another
oper to work COOPERATION working together
pac peace PACIFY make peaceful

PACIFIC peaceful
PACIFIST person opposed to war
para contrary to PARADOX that which is contrary to

receive opinion
pass feel DISPASSIONATE free of emotion

IMPASSIONED emotion-filled
IMPASSIVE showing no feeling
pater, patr father PATRIOTISM love of one's country

(fatherland)
PATRIARCH male ruler of a family,
group or state
PATERNITY fatherhood
path disease, feeling PATHOLOGY study of diseased tissue

lacking feeling;
APATHETIC indifferent
hostile feeling
ANTIPATHY
ped, pod foot IMPEDIMENT stumbling-block;

hindrance
QUADRUPED four-footed animal
PEDESTAL the support of a column,
statue etc.
PEDESTRIAN on foot, of walking
(second meaning -
uninspired)
PEDOMETER an instrument for
counting paces and so
approximately
measuring distance
walked
PODIUM a platform, dais
ped child PEDAGOGUE teacher of children

PAEDIATRICIAN children's doctor
pel, puls to drive COMPULSION a forcing to do

EXPEL drive out, banish
pet, petit to seek PETITION request

APPETITE craving, desire
COMPETITIVE with others
phil to love PHILANTHROPIST benefactor, lover of

humanity
ANGLOPHILE lover of everything
English
PHILANDERER one involved in brief
love affairs
PHILOSOPHER a lover of wisdom
PHILATELIST one who loves
collecting stamps
phoebe fear ASTRAPHOBIA fear of celestial space

BALLISTROPHOBIA fear of missiles
CLAUSTROPHOBIA fear of closed place
ERGOPHOBIA fear of work
NYCTOPHOBIA fear of night
OCHLOPHOBIA fear of mob
PANOPHOBIA a form of melancholia
marked by groundless
fears
PHOTOPHOBIA fear of light
SITOPHOBIA fear of food
XENOPHOBIA fear of strangers
TRICHOPHOBIA fear of hair
pleos full PLENARY fully attended

PLENIPOTENTIARY having full powers
PLETHORA over abundance
PLENITUDE fullness; completeness
PLEONASM a redundancy of words
fullness
PLENUM empty
DEPLETE superfluous use of
EXPLETIVES words
fill again
REPLENISH filled with
REPLETE
pon, posit to place POSTPONE place after

POSITIVE definite, unquestioned
port, portat to carry PORTABLE able to be carried

EXPORT carry out (of country)
poten able, powerful OMNIPOTENT all-powerful

POTENTATE powerful person
IMPOTENT powerless
psych mind PSYCHOLOGY study of the mind

PSYCHOSIS mental disorder
PSYCHOPATH mentally ill person
put, putat to trim, to calculate PUTATIVE supposed (calculated)

COMPUTATION calculation
AMPUTATE cut off
pyr fire, heat, fever ANTIPYRETIC medicine used against

fever
PYROTECHNICS the art of making
fireworks
EMPYREAN formed of pure light or
fire pertaining to the
highest and purest
region of heaven
pertaining to listing of
PYROGNOSTIC minerals by flame
fire-worship
PYROLATRY the science of artillery
PYROBALLOGY
quer, ques, quir, quis to ask INQUIRY investigation

INQUISITIVE question
QUERY question
robor strength CORROBORATION conformation
reg, rect rule REGICIDE murder of a ruler

REGENT ruler
INSURRECTION rebellion; overthrow of
a ruler
rid, ris to laugh DERISION scorn
RISIBILITY inclination to laughter
RIDICULOUS deserving to be laughed
at
rog, rogat to ask INTERROGATE question

PREROGATIVE privilege
rupt to break INTERRUPT break into

BANKRUPT insolvent
RUPTURE a break
sacr holy SACRILEGIOUS impious, violating
something holy
SACRAMENT religious act
sci to know OMNISCIENT knowing all

CONSCIOUS aware
scop watch, see PERISCOPE device for seeing
around corners
MICROSCOPE device for seeing small
objects
scrib, script to write TRANSCRIBE make a written copy

CIRCUMSCRIBE write around, limit
sect cut DISSECT cut apart

BISECT cut into two pieces
ced, sess to sit SEDENTARY inactive (sitting)

SESSION meeting
sent, sens to think, to feel CONSENT agree

RESENT show indignation
sequi, secut, seque to follow CONSECUTIVE following in order

SEQUEL that which follows
NON SEQUITUR something that does not
follow logically
solv, solut to loosen ABSOLVE free from blame

DISSOLUTE morally lax
ABSOLUTE complete (not loosened)
somn sleep INSOMNIA inability to sleep

SOMNOLENT sleepy
SOMNAMBULIST sleepwalker
soph wisdom SOPHISTICATED worldly wise
spec, spect to look at SPECTATOR observer

CIRCUMSPECT cautious (looking
around)
spir breathe SPIRITED full of life (breath)
string, strict bind STRINGENT strict

CONSTRICT become tight
STRICTURE limit, something that
restrains
stru, struct build CONSTRUCTIVE helping to build

CONSTRUE analyze (how
something is built)
suit (sal, sil, sault) jump or leap RESILIENT capable of gaining its
original shape
EXULTANT rejoicing, triumphant
(jumping out of one's
skin with joy)
SALIENT that which leaps at you
i.e. important
SOMERSAULT to leap or jump while
turning the heels over
DESULTORY jumping from one thing
to another without
rational or logical
connection
ASSAULT jumping towards
(i.e. attack)
tang, tact, ting to touch TANGENT Touching

CONTINGENT depending upon
tempor time CONTEMPORARY at same time

nd
EXTEMPORANEOUS impromtuous
TEMPORIZE delay
TEMPORAL pertaining to time
ten, tent to hold TENABLE able to be held

TENURE holding of office
RETENTIVE holding; having good
memory
term end INTERMINABLE endless

TERMINATE end
terr land TERRESTRIAL pertaining to earth

SUBTERRANEAN underground
therm heat THERMOSTAT instrument that

regulates heat
DIATHERMY sending heat through
body tissues
tome a slice, a piece EPITOME embodiment (after

cut off cutting off non-essential
material or
condensation)
ECTOMY surgical cutting
eg. appendectomy
tors, tort twist DISTORT twist out of true shape

or meaning
TORSION act of twisting
TORTUOUS twisting
RETORT to twist back a reply, to
answer sharply or wittily
to twist together or upon
CONTORT itself
to twist out by force; to
EXTORT gain by violence or
compulsion
a nose twister, so
NASTURTIUM named because of its
pungent odour
tract drag, pull DISTRACT pull (one's attention)

away
INTRACTABLE stubborn, unable to be
dragged
trud, trus push, shove INTRUDE push one's way in

PROTRUSION something sticking out
turb trouble IMPERTURBABLE that cannot be disturbed
or troubled; calm and
serene
TURBID disordered, troubled,
muddy, thick
urb city URBAN pertaining to a city
polished, sophisticated,
URBANE pertaining to a city
dweller
outside of a city
SUBURBAN
vac empty VACUOUS lacking content, empty-

headed
EVACUATE compel to empty an
area
vad, vas go INVADE enter in a hostile

fashion
EVASIVE not frank; eluding
veni, vent, ven to come INTERVENE come between

CONVENTION meeting
ver true VERACIOUS truthful

VERIFY check the truth
VERITY truth; most often used in
plural and with eternal
appearance of truth
VERISIMILITUDE a true saying; therefore
VERDICT a presumably first
judgement made on the
basis of verified
judgement
verb word VERBOSE wordy

VERBIAGE excessive use of words
word for word
VERBATIM
vers, vert turn VERTIGO turning dizzy

REVERT turn back (to an earlier
state)
via way VIADUCT roadway (arched)

TRIVIAL trifling (small talk at
crossroads)
vid, vis to see EVIDENCE things seen

VISTA view
vinc, vict, vanq to conquer INVINCIBLE unconquerable

VANQUISH defeat
viv, vit alive VIVISECTION operating on living

animals
VIVACIOUS full of life
VITALITY liveliness
voc, vocat to call AVOCATION calling, minor

occupation
PROVOCATION calling or rousing the
anger of
INVOCATION calling in prayer
vol wish MALEVOLENT wishing someone ill

VOLUNTARY of one's own will
volv, volut to roll CONVOLUTION coiled state
Introduction to Building a Better Vocabulary
“A man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a weak thinker. The richer and more copious one's vocabulary
and the greater one's awareness of fine distinctions and subtle nuances of meaning, the more fertile and precise is likely
to be one's thinking. Knowledge of things and knowledge of the words for them grow together. If you do not know the
words, you can hardly know the thing.”
― Henry Hazlitt, Thinking as a Science
The primal fear that grips test takers of any competitive exam is the difficulty posed by the language section. Most
aspirants feel that mathematics and reasoning can be “managed”, but language calls for a little more than an extra mile.
While it is a fact that language section most often calls for a much larger preparation base, all is not lost. If you are
willing to put in consistent, purposeful, focused effort, you can keep the cake and eat it too!
Following some simple strategies and keeping a good pace with reading would be your first baby step.
1. Reading
Dedicate atleast an hour to reading. While the benefits of reading are extensively discussed in your Reading
Comprehension class, its contribution to vocabulary building cannot be overstressed. As you read, do not look up the
dictionary to know the meaning of every word the meaning of which you do not know. Cultivate the habit of
“deciphering” the meaning. Keep a pencil in your hand and mark at the margin when you come across a difficult word.
Continue reading , and guess the meaning of the word using contextual cues. Please ensure that you read a variety of
subjects. This will help you familiarise yourself with an assortment of jargon.
2. Roots
Learning words through roots is not just enriching but also fun! So it is two birds in one stone! One can safely say that
atleast half of the words in English are derived from Greek and Latin. Knowing the meaning of one root helps to
decipher the meaning of all the words formed from that root. The word ‘vocabulary’ itself is from voc, a Latin root
meaning “word” or “name.” Advocacy, convocation, evocative, vocal, and vociferous also have the same root.
Word of caution: root words can have more than one meaning and various shades of meaning. In addition, words that
look similar may derive from different roots. So roots should be relied on only for a general guidance, and for enhancing
your repertoire. The final stop is surely the dictionary.
3. Word Groups/Collocation/Association
Words are meaningless in isolation. Understanding and recognising their collacative and associated usage helps to use
them with ease. For e.g., the word ‘eye’ – has atleast fivehundred words related to it, and more than a hundred
idioms/phrases. Here are a few :
couldn’t believe eyes eyes are out on stalks keep weather eye open
cry eyes out eyes like saucers lay eyes on
cut eyes at eyes like two burnt holes in a blanket look in the eye
cut teeth eyes pop out of head look in the face
dollar signs in eyes feast eyes make eyes at
eagle eye feast eyes on make sheep’s eyes at
eye candy Fields have eyes, and more than meets the eye
eye for an eye woods have ears naked eye
not a dry eye
4. Prefixes and Suffixes:
Knowing the meanings of prefixes and suffixes also will help you to guess the meanings of words.
Prefixes such as semi, hemi, uni, cent, milli etc denote quantity; counter, de, mis, anti etc denote negation; and so on
5. Dictionary
Be generous with use of dictionary. Make sure that you have a dictionary in every location you are likely to require it.
“I’ll look it up later” never works. Stock your car, your college bag, your study room, and your phone with dictionaries.
6. Internet
Judicious use of the internet will improve your vocabulary in leaps and bounds. The internet instantly provides you with
origins and usages of words.
7. Eponyms
They are words derived from names of real, fictional, mythical or spurious characters or people. The English language
has thousands of such words, and each has a story behind it. For e.g. Quixotic, chauvinist, malapropism, etc are all
eponyms.
8. Cue cards
The cue cards that you got along with the study material is a very valuable source of vocabulary enrichment. Read
through them everyday, finishing the set in a stipulated time. Then start the cycle again. You will find that with each
cycle, your familiarity with words improves.
This handout introduces roots to you. The given list is only a few of the many. Please do not limit your learning to just
these words. Please familiarise yourself with the other roots in this alphabet range.
A list of roots covered in VAHO1001607 is given below. A detailed discussion of these roots and sharing of inputs shall
take place before the discussion of the questions that follow.
1. De = down, out, away, apart

2. Dis = not, apart
3. Doc/Doct = teach
4. Dol = pain, sorrow
5. Ego = self
6. εn = in, into
7. Err = wander
8. Eu = good, well
9. Ex, ec = out, out of
10. Fal/fals = deceive
11. Fid = faith, trust
12. Flu/flux = flow
13. Fore = before
14. Frag/frac = break
15. Fus = pour
16. Gen = birth, class, kin
17. Grad/gress = to step, to go
18. Gram = writing
19. Grat = pleasure
20. Greg = crowd
21. Hol = whole
22. Hypo = under, little
23. It/Iter = between, among
24. Ject/Jet = to throw
25. Jud = judge
26. Jur/jus = law, right
27. Liber = free
28. Lix = speak, speech
29. Loqui = speak
30. Luc = light, shine
31. Lud/ lus = play
32. Magn = great, big
33. Mal = bad
34. Mor = death
35. Mut = change, exchange
A list of roots covered in VAHO1001608 are given below. A detailed discussion of these roots and sharing of inputs
shall take place before the discussion of the questions that follow.
1. Neg = not, deny
2. Neo/Nov = new
3. Nihil = home, nothing, destroy
4. Noc/Nic /Nec/ Nox = harm
5. Ob = against
6. Path = feel, emotion
7. Pec = money
8. Ped = child, foot
9. Pend = to hang
10. Phil = to love
11. Phon = sound
12. Prob/Prov = truth, prove
13. Quie = quiet
14. Rect = straight
15. Rid/Ris = laugh
16. Rogat/Rog = ask
17. Rota = wheel, round
18. Scrib/scrip/ scriv = write
19. Sol = sun, alone, solitude
20. Solu/solv = loosen, free
21. Son = sound
22. Soph = wise, sophisticated
23. Spers/Spar = scatter
24. Struct/Stru = build
25. Sub = under
26. Summa = highest
27. Surrect = rise
28. Tang/Tact = touch
29. Term = end
30. Tim = fear
31. Topos = place
32. Tract = draw, pull
33. Trepi/Trem = shak, fear
34. Turb = shake, whirling
35. Tuit = watch over
36. Umbr = shadow
37. Val/ Vail = value, strength
38. Van = front
39. Ven/Vent/Veni = come
40. Ver = ture
41. Vert/vers = to turn
42. Vid/vis = to see
43. Viva/Vita = life, alive
44. Voc/Voca/Vok/Vow = call, word
45. Vor = eat
Practice Exercise – 1
Directions for questions 1 to 5: Each question has a 13. COMPLIANT : RESISTANT
word followed by four choices. From the choices, select (A) Debilitating : Enervating
the most suitable synonym (word which means the (B) Clamorous : Boisterous
same) for the main word and mark its corresponding (C) Defamatory : Complimentary
letter as your answer. (D) Incessant : Relentless
1. AMALGAMATE 14. EUPHEMISTIC : EXTENUATIVE

(A) integrate (B) imbue (A) Malapropos :Infelicitous
(C) buttress (D) ostracize (B) Lucid : Ambiguous
(C) Gratuitous : Prudent
2. CONFLUENCE
(A) crossroads (B) convergence (D) Disingenuous : Veracious
(C) intersection (D) conflagration
15. ILLUSORY : DECEPTION
3. EXCULPATE (A) Transitory : Impermanence
(A) extirpate (B) excoriate (B) Judicious : Prudence
(C) exonerate (D) extradite (C) Grandiloquent : Deceit
(D) Profound : Flippancy
4. BELLICOSE
(A) astute (B) canny Directions for questions 16 to 20: Fill in the blanks in
(C) pugnacious (D) oppressive the given sentences so as to make sense. Select the
correct pair of words from the answer choices and mark
5. INDOLENT its corresponding letter as your answer.
(A) docile (B) lugubrious
(C) intransigent (D) slothful 16. Issues of human environmental impacts today tend
to be _______, and opinions, about them tend to fall
Directions for questions 6 to 10: Each question has a on a spectrum between two _______ camps.
word followed by four choices. From the choices, identify (A) incontrovertible . . . antagonistic
the one which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the (B) controversial . . . opposite
main word and mark its corresponding letter as your (C) contradictory . . . inimical
answer. (D) incessant . . . polemical
6. ACRIMONY 17. As a first step towards improving bilateral
(A) amiability (B) raucousness relationships the two countries decided to resolve
(C) tyranny (D) irascibility the _______dispute in a/an _______ manner.
(A) ambiguous . . . amiable
7. BEMOAN
(B) contradictory . . . execrable
(A) berate (B) deplore
(C) exasperating . . . artful
(C) applaud (D) bewail
(D) acrimonious . . . amicable
8. CAPITULATE
(A) elevate (B) surrender 18. The team received huge _______ from the
(C) enumerate (D) resist management for its _______ handling of the crisis.
(A) adulation . . . hamfisted
9. INTERMITTENT (B) flak . . . proficient
(A) sporadic (B) steadfast (C) applause . . . adept
(C) fitful (D) incessant (D) commendation . . . slipshod
10. DOCTRINAIRE 19. All hopes of the _______ of hostilities between the
(A) moderate (B) rebellious two rival nations were quelled by the defence
(C) capricious (D) liberal minister’s _______ speech.
(A) cessation . . . inciting.
Directions for questions 11 to 15: Each question has a
pair of CAPITALISED words followed by four pairs of (B) termination . . . inflammatory.
words. Choose the pair of words that best expresses a (C) resurrection . . . conciliatory
relationship similar to that expressed by the capitalized pair. (D) interruption . . . incendiary
11. AUTOCRAT : BENEVOLENCE 20. The two leaders belonging to rival parties
(A) Recidivist : Compunction
succeeded in devising a working relationship so as
(B) Ascetic : Abstemiousness
(C) Criminal : Acrimony not to _______ the differences which had emerged
(D) Connoisseur : Taste between them in the _______ election campaign
held recently.
12. COMMODIOUS : EXPANSIVE (A) amplify . . . acerbic
(A) Decadent : Repulsive (B) incite . . . zealous
(B) Squalid : Alluring (C) aggravate . . . fiery
(C) Cloistered : Confined (D) exacerbate . . . rancorous
(D) Defiled : Pristine
Directions for questions 21 to 24: State whether the 33. SCREEN
following statements are true or false. (A) He got an opportunity to write for the screen
when he was fairly young.
21. A person who is ambivalent is indecisive. Yes/No (B) She suggested that we could screen of part of
the room and use it as a makeshift office.
22. Avionics is the science of electronics when used in (C) The investigation was conducted behind a
designing and making aircraft. Yes/No screen of secrecy.
(D) I have a strong feeling that he is trying to take
23. An abbot leads a cloistered existence. Yes /No the blame on himself in order to screen
someone
24. An agnostic is a person who does not believe in the
existence of god. Yes/ No 34. CUT
(A) The young officer cut a fine figure in his army
Directions for question 25: Find a one–word substitute uniform.
for the following phrase. (B) Her family cut up all ties with her because she
married against their wish.
25. A person who is ungrateful (C) She desperately wants to reduce her weight so
(A) infidel she has cut out fatty foods altogether from her
(B) iconoclast diet.
(C) insurgent (D) A. R. Rehman has cut out a niche for himself in
(D) ingrate the field of music.
Directions for questions 26 to 30: In each of the 35. PIN

following questions, four words are given. Three of them (A) She combed her hair backwards and secured it
belong to the same category. Mark the letter with a pin.
corresponding with the ‘odd man’ as your answer.
(B) Jack managed to grab the thief and pin him
against the wall until the police arrived on the
26. (A) absolve (B) pardon
(C) abjure (D) reprieve scene.
(C) You can’t pin the blame at anyone without
27. (A) armistice (B) armada verifying facts.
(C) truce (D) ceasefire (D) It is imprudent to pin your hopes on someone to
help you out of this situation.
28. (A) anarchy (B) mayhem
(C) cataclysm (D) lawlessness 36. FACE
(A) The Japanese show great courage and fortitude
29. (A) concord (B) harmony in the face of danger.
(C) accord (D) combat (B) Her parents have set their face against her
decision to marry a foreigner.
30. (A) approbation (B) approval (C) Several tribal communities living on these
(C) applause (D) appropriation islands have disappeared off the face off the
earth.
Directions for questions 31 to 38: In each of the
(D) John is very frank, if he has something to say,
following questions, the word at the top is used in four
different ways, A to D. Choose the option in which the he will say it to people’s face.
usage of the word is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.
37. RANK
31. BOUND (A) Deepak rose through the rank to become the
(A) Students are bound to feel nervous before their CEO of the company at a fairly young age.
exams even if they are well prepared. (B) The United States is in the front rank of world
(B) There is bound to be stiff opposition from powers.
people when the new bill is introduced. (C) The house was hidden from view by a serried
(C) He is bound and determined to start his own rank of trees.
business someday. (D) It was rank stupidity on his part to invest all his
(D) She is so bound in her work that she has no money in the share market.
time for any sort of relaxation.
38. ACT
32. ACCOUNT (A) Jane was chosen to act the part of Cindrella in
(A) The eye witness gave a full account of the the school play.
incident to the media persons. (B) The trapeze act was the highlight of the
(B) The teachers were asked to account for the scintillating performance put up by the circus
dismal results in the board exams. artists.
(C) On no account should this information be (C) His stint as the Head of the Department will be
divulged to anyone. a hard act to follow.
(D) On all accounts the scenic beauty of Kashmir (D) The children tend to act out whenever they are
valley is breathtaking. left in the care of a nanny.
Directions for questions 39 to 45: Fill in the blanks in 39. (A) revered (B) institutionalized
the passage below, with the most appropriate word from (C) condemned (D) denounced
among the options given for each blank. The right words
are the ones used by the author. Be guided by the 40. (A) restrained (B) exorbitant
author’s overall style and meaning when you choose (C) ravenous (D) unwarranted
your answer.
41. (A) injudicious (B) inordinate
In Nazi Germany, dysfunctional thinking was (39) in the (C) imprudent (D) insatiable
totalitarian state, its dogma, and its war machine. Today
a different dysyfunction takes the form of (40) and (41) 42. (A) crises (B) cataclysms
consumption, its dogma, and the mechanisms by which (C) upheavals (D) incursions
ever more resources are obtained. Totalitarianism and
consumption have led to (42) peculiar to advanced 43. (A) viciously (B) amok
industrial civilization: both are examples of alienation and (C) tempestuously (D) menacingly
technology run (43). Just as totalitarianism collapses
individuals into “the state”, the new ideology of 44. (A) champions (B) cultivates
consumption collapses individuals into the desire for (C) endorses (D) fosters
what they consume, even as it (44) the assumption that
we are separate from the earth. It is this strange and (45) 45. (A) quirky (B) calamitous
way of thinking about our relationship to the physical (C) destructive (D) noxious
world that is our real enemy.
Directions for questions 1 to 5: Each question has 10. PROLIX
a word followed by four choices. From the choices, (A) turgid (B) periphrastic
select the most suitable synonym (word which means (C) concise (D) discursive
the same) for the main word and mark its corresponding
letter as your answer. Directions for questions 11 to 15: In each of the
following questions, a word is given with certain letters
1. APPROBATION missing. This is followed by a synonym of what the word
(A) denunciation (B) endorsement means. Use this clue to fill in the missing letters and
(C) obsequiousness (D) condemnation complete the word.
2. CONTRAVENE
11. c _ t _ _ l _ c (8 letters)
(A) debunk (B) refute
Clue: All embracing; of wide sympathies or interests.
(C) acquiesce (D) flout
3. ITINERANT 12. a _ _ i _ a _ e (8 letters)

(A) languid (B) capricious Clue: Give up or renounce
(C) peripatetic (D) erratic
13. f _ _ e _ i _ y (8 letters)
4. MALODOROUS Clue: Strict conformity to truth or fact.
(A) alluring (B) enchanting
(C) putrid (D) redolent 14. d _ p _ a _ i _ y (9 letters)
Clue: Moral turpitude
5. LUDICROUS
(A) risible (B) incredulous 15. g _ a _ u _ t _ (8 letters)
(C) disjointed (D) conceited Clue: Money given in recognition of services
Directions for questions 6 to 10: Each of the following Directions for questions 16 to 20: In each of the
questions has a word followed by four choices. From the following questions, a capitalised pair of words is given
choices identify the one which is opposite in meaning followed by four pairs of words. Three of the pairs exhibit
(antonym) to the main word and mark its corresponding the same relationship between the words as the
letter as your answer. capitalised pair of words. Identify the pair which does not
6. AGGRIEVE exhibit the same relationship as the capitalised pair and
(A) mollycoddle (B) please mark its corresponding letter as your answer.
(C) restrain (D) beguile
16. TORTUOUS : SINUOUS
7. GREGARIOUS (A) Circumspect : Cautious
(A) odious (B) taciturn (B) Pugnacious : Amatory
(C) imperious (D) hubristic (C) Obsolete : Antiquated
(D) Caustic : Scathing
8. BONHOMIE
(A) bondage (B) coldness 17. MISANTHROPIC : RANCOUR
(C) malice (D) affinity (A) Prudent : Circumspection
(B) Embodied : Incarnation
9. MEDIOCRE
(C) Cloistered : Seclusion
(A) prosaic (B) outstanding
(D) Incredible : Disbursement
(C) exceptionable (D) pedestrian
18. REGICIDE : KING 27. (A) foreboding (B) caveat
(A) Fratricide : Brother (C) premonition (D) presentiment
(B) Parricide : Parents
(C) Filicide : Sibling 28. (A) entreaty (B) appeal
(D) Uxoricide : Wife (C) insinuation (D) imploration
19. TROJAN HORSE : PERFIDY 29. (A) turgid (B) diaphanous

(A) Cornucopia : Bounty (C) gossamer (D) translucent
(B) Chimera : Illusion
(C) Phoenix : Immortality 30. (A) amorphous (B) nascent
(D) Frankenstein : Candour (C) nebulous (D) vague
20. JETTISON : DISCARD Directions for questions 31 to 38: In each of the

(A) Inculpate : Absolve following questions, the word at the top is used in four
(B) Bowlderize : Expurgate different ways, A to D. Choose the option in which the
(C) Elucidate : Explicate usage of the word is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.
(D) Disgorge : Regurgitate
31. DRAW
Directions for questions 21 to 25: Each question has (A) People in remote villages have to draw water
a sentence with two blanks followed by four pairs of from wells even to this day.
words as choices. From among the choices, select the (B) He cannot be fooled so easily, he is always
pair of words that can best complete the given sentence. quick in the draw.
(C) You cannot draw any salary for the first six
21. In spite of possessing an enviable_____, rarely does months when you are on probation.
he indulge in _____. (D) Jane Austen’s novels draw heavily on her
(A) lexis . . . logomachies personal life.
(B) deportment . . . eugenics
(C) epistemology . . . prologues 32. HOME
(D) egotism . . . polemics (A) We had to put a lot of things in place before we
were home and dry.
22. Abraham Lincoln is known to have _____ in his (B) John is content looking after the kids while his
childhood and it is no accident that he went on to wife brings home the bacon.
become a/an _____. (C) The visuals brought home to us the extent of
(A) amnesia . . . alumnus the disaster.
(B) lucubrated . . . luminary (D) Hyderabad, which is one of the most
(C) perspicuity . . . protagonist cosmopolitan cities in India, is a home to people
(D) ergophobia . . . democrat of diverse cultures.
23. In his weekly homily, the _____ cautioned us 33. EFFECT

against treating anything in creation as _____, since (A) The change in company procedure will not
every creation of God has a definite purpose. effect us in anyway.
(A) progenitor . . . congenial (B) The new interest rates come into effect from the
(B) nestor . . . stygian beginning of next month.
(C) inductor . . .defunct (C) Nicotine has an adverse effect on the
(D) lector . . . jetsam functioning of the heart.
(D) All my efforts to persuade him to change his
24. He has a _____ nature, but his job requires him to plan had little effect.
be _____.
(A) naïve . . . insouciant 34. GROUND
(B) caddish . . . judicious (A) The bank offers loans for small companies to
(C) docile . . . doctrinaire get off the ground.
(D) gregarious . . . prescient (B) The charismatic young leader’s progressive
ideas have a lot of support on the ground.
25. People with _____ alone know the difference (C) Despite all the persuasions and threats she
between confidence and haughtiness although both stood her ground.
appear _____. (D) She worked herself to the ground and in the
(A) amity . . . dour process ruined her health.
(B) sagacity . . . cognate
(C) prudence . . . morose 35. GAME
(D) declivity . . . infallible (A) Hunting game was the favourite pastime of the
royalty.
following questions, four choices are given. Three of (B) Unlike most other games, chess which is a
them belong to the same category. Mark the letter game of skill is intellectually stimulating.
corresponding with the ‘odd man’ as your answer. (C) I was aware that the task was very challenging
but I was game for it.
26. (A) diffidence (B) reticence (D) We planned a surprise party for Jim but Susan
(C) reserve (D) effusion gave the game off by giggling.
36. FORM Evil is not self-sustaining that which stands defiantly
(A) The team was in superb form and ready for the opposed to reality cannot survive on its own. Its enduring
tournament. existence requires the (39) of the good. Existentially, the
(B) As the fog cleared, the distant hills and trees irrational survives (40), by feeding off the rational;
began to take form. intellectually, an irrational idea gains influence (41), by
(C) Samir’s boss warned him that if he didn’t form covering itself with a/an (42) of rationality. The weapon
up, he would be dismissed. necessary to (43) ourselves against evil is justice : the
(D) True to form Sheela was late by half an hour. (44) identification of the evil as evil. This means the
refusal to grant it, by word or by deed, any moral
37. DROP respectability. It is by scrupulously withholding from the
(A) After the long and arduous trek we were ready irrational even a crumb of a moral sanction - by rejecting
to drop by the end of the day. any form of accommodation with the irrational – by
(B) There has been a sharp drop in temperatures in forcing the irrational to stand naked and unaided – that
the past two weeks. one keeps evil (45).
(C) He has decided to drop off from active politics
owing to ill health. 39. (A) ratification (B) acquiescence
(D) I shall drop in at your place on my way home. (C) corroboration (D) patronage
38. EDGE 40. (A) triumphantly (B) haplessly

(A) He always has an edge on his voice when he (C) dispassionately (D) parasitically
talks to his subordinates. 41. (A) fraudulently (B) fallaciously
(B) She lives in a quaint little cottage on the edge of (C) forebodingly (D) errantly
the village.
(C) Environmental degradation is slowly bringing 42. (A) edifice (B) modicum
the world to the edge of disaster. (C) veneer (D) protection
(D) In terms of experience Sudha has an edge over
the other members of the team. 43. (A) obscure (B) defend
(C) strive (D) conceal
Directions for questions 39 to 45: Fill in the blanks in
the passage below, with the most appropriate word from 44. (A) categorical (B) blatant
among the options given for each blank. The right words (C) covert (D) unequivocal
are the ones used by the author. Be guided by the 45. (A) indisposed (B) crippled
author’s overall style and meaning when you (C) impotent (D) incapacitated
choose your answer.
Directions for questions 1 to 5: Each of the following 7. TACTILE
questions has a word followed by four choices. From the (A) robust (B) enervating
choices identify the one which is similar in meaning to (C) intangible (D) insouciant
the main word and mark its corresponding letter as your
answer. 8. TREMULOUS
(A) irresolute (B) presumptious
1. SACRILEGE (C) obdurate (D) steady
(A) disapproval (B) profanity
(C) restriction (D) castigation 9. URBANE
(A) suave (B) rational
2. SEMINAL (C) boorish (D) antiquated
(A) influential (B) hypothetical
(C) pervasive (D) pertinent 10. CONVIVIAL
(A) jovial (B) vivacious
3. INSURGENT (C) flamboyant (D) unfriendly
(A) infidel (B) rationalist
(C) pacifist (D) rebel Directions for questions 11 to 15: In each of the
following questions four choices are given. Three of
4. TACITURN
them belong to the same category. Mark the letter
(A) reticent (B) hostile
corresponding with the ‘odd man’ as your answer.
(C) hubristic (D) congenial
11. (A) metaphor (B) quintessence
5. SUBVERT (C) embodiment (D) epitome
(A) intimidate (B) undermine
(C) condescend (D) vilify 12. (A) corroboration (B) elucidation
(C) validation (D) confirmation
Directions for questions 6 to 10: Each of the following
questions has a word followed by four choices. From the 13. (A) conjecture (B) surmise
choices identify the one which is opposite in meaning (C) speculation (D) exposition
(antonym) to the main word and mark its corresponding
letter as your answer. 14. (A) commiserate (B) wheedle
(C) empathize (D) console
6. DESULTORY
(A) superficial (B) methodical 15. (A) exhortation (B) premonition
(C) skillful (D) haphazard (C) foreboding (D) portent
Directions for questions 16 to 20: Each question has 24. IMBECILE : INTELLIGENCE
a sentence with two blanks followed by four pair of words (A) Virtuoso : Ethics
as choices. From among the choices, select the pair of (B) Diplomat : Tact
words that can best complete the sentence.
(C) Felon : Erudition
16. The assault on freedom of expression on the (D) Hedonist : Abstemiousness
internet has taken on _____ forms in India, with
a regime of arbitrary arrests and censorship orders, 25. PRODIGAL : THRIFT
_____ a cherished fundamental right.
(A) Desperado : Fear
(A) drastic, undermining
(B) risible, suppressing (B) Maverick : Rebellion
(C) ludicrous, demolishing (C) Reprobate : Morality
(D) extreme, obliterating (D) Ascetic : Abstemiousness
17. _____ biodiversity and _____ of habitats exact a Directions for questions 26 to 30: State whether the
heavy toll on rural communities for whom local following statements are true or false.
ecosystem resources sustain livelihoods.
(A) Diminishing, degradation 26. A sanctuary is a shelter or a place of safety. Yes/ No
(B) Dwindling, deterioration
(C) Abating, vanishing 27. Someone who is prescient has a knowledge of
(D) Shrinking, erosion things or events before they exist or happen.
18. The _____ public persona the war coalition leader Yes / No
presents, can be quite different in this situation from
the _____ face he shows in private. 28. Proscribe is to relieve from a charge of fault or
(A) suave, stern crime. Yes / No
(B) charismatic, grim
(C) urbane, gaunt 29. A somnambulist is one who walks in his sleep.
(D) debonair, deadpan Yes/ No
19. His priority now is the business arena and his 30. Something which is contentious is controversial or
favourite _____ a business conference from where debatable. Yes/ No
he publicly warns governments that appear to be
dragging their feet on _____ economic issues. Directions for questions 31 to 38: In each of the
(A) podium, chronic following questions, the word at the top is used in four
(B) lectern, crucial different ways, A to D. Choose the option in which the
(C) platform, core usage of the word is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.
(D) rostrum, exigent
31. KEEP
20. Very often people make the mistake of assuming
that mutually _____ qualities bear no relationship to (A) My uncle has a farmhouse in a village, where
one another but in reality these _____ continuously he keeps goats and chickens.
redefine each other. (B) The workers are demanding a salary which can
(A) exclusive, dichotomies keep up with inflation.
(B) analogous, chasms (C) My neighbour offered to keep the children, while
(C) complementary, polarities I went shopping.
(D) reciprocal, disjunctions (D) I could hardly keep out form laughing when she
told me how she fell into a puddle of water.
Directions for questions 21 to 25: Each question has
a pair of CAPITALISED words followed by four pairs of 32. MATCH
words. Choose the pair of words that best expresses (A) Shyam and Meera are a perfect match for each
a relationship similar to that expressed by the capitalized other.
pair. (B) Even the best batsman of our team was not a
21. PEDAGOGUE : TEACH match for Ali who was a formidable batsman of
(A) Lyricist : Sing our rival team.
(B) Clairvoyant : Apprise (C) The film may have received rave reviews in all
(C) Pontiff : Sermonize the papers but it failed to match our
(D) Arbiter : Negotiate expectations.
(D) The account given by the two eye witnesses did
22. SEISMIC : EARTHQUAKES not match up.
(A) Fluvial : Rivers
(B) Clouds : Pluvial 33. LIGHT
(C) Insular : Rains
(A) Sometimes we light up a solution to the most
(D) Funicular : Islands difficult problem quite by accident.
23. ICONOCLAST : SCEPTICISM (B) Empirical evidence has thrown light on the
(A) Heretic : Conformism cause of the disease.
(B) Sophist : Casuistry (C) In the light of the recent bomb blasts security
(C) Jingoist : Idiosyncrasy measures have been beefed up in the city.
(D) Ideologue : Cynicism (D) I generally prefer a light meal at night.
34. JUMP Directions for questions 39 to 45: Fill in the blanks in
(A) She is always ready to jump at her colleagues the passage below, with the most appropriate word from
even if there is a minor lapse in their work. among the options given for each blank. The right words
(B) The deal is very attractive I am sure people will are the ones used by the author. Be guided by the
jump at it. author’s overall style and meaning when you choose
(C) Renu cannot take it if someone criticizes her your answer.
son, she immediately jumps to his defence.
(D) I prefer to start for work early every morning so The greatest _(39)_ to mankind and civilization is the
that I can beat the traffic. spread of the totalitarian philosophy. Its best ally is not the
devotion of its followers but the confusion of its enemies.
35. LOOK To fight it, we must understand it. Totalitarianism is
collectivism. Collectivism means the subjugation of the
(A) As soon as Paul entered the room Peter gave
individual to a group – whether to a race, class or state
him a quizzical look.
does not matter. Collectivism holds that man must be
(B) We need to look to ways of improving our
chained to collective action and collective thought for the
business in order to face the stiff competition.
sake of what is called the "common good". Throughout
(C) The young director hoped that critics will look history no _(40)_ ever rose to power except on the claim
kindly on his debut film. of representing "the common good". Napolean served “the
(D) I look ahead to hearing a positive reply from you. common good" of France. Hitler served “the common
good" of Germany. Horrors which no man would dare
36. ISSUE consider for his own selfish sake are _(41)_ with a clear
(A) The labour union might take an issue with the conscience by "altruists" who _(42)_ themselves by the
management on working overtime. common good. No tyrant has ever lasted long by force of
(B) As the issue is very sensitive it must be arms alone. Men have been _(43)_ primarily by spiritual
broached very tactfully. weapons. And the greatest of these is the collectivist
(C) The point at issue is whether the new policy doctrine that the supremacy of the state over the individual
implemented by the government is actually constitutes the common good. No dictator could rise if
beneficial to the people. men held as a sacred faith the conviction that they have
(D) Her photograph was on the cover page of the _(44)_ rights of which they cannot be deprived for any
latest issue of a leading fashion magazine. cause whatsoever, by any man whatsoever neither by
evildoer nor supposed _(45)_.
37. MARK 39. (A) plague (B) threat
(A) Although her stint in this organization was rather (C) torment (D) burden
short, she definitely made a mark on this place.
(B) Low sales in the past six months have forced 40. (A) tyrant (B) sovereign
companies to mark down the prices of some (C) baron (D) emperor
commodities.
(C) The police were slow of the mark in nabbing the 41. (A) perpetrated (B) interpreted
culprits. (C) executed (D) wreaked
(D) I would like to give him an award as a mark of 42. (A) propitiate (B) sustain
appreciation for the commendable work that he (C) establish (D) justify
has done.
43. (A) enriched (B) embittered
38. LEAD (C) empowered (D) enslaved
(A) I think Mr. Rao is the right person to lead the
team. 44. (A) ineluctable (B) ineffaceable
(B) He offered to lead us into the auditorium. (C) inalienable (D) intangible
(C) A lead from an informer enabled the police to 45. (A) benefactor (B) reprobate
defuse the bomb on time. (C) prude (D) debauchee
(D) Team A will lead up the debate by expressing
their views.
(Denotations, Connotations, Collocations, Word roots, Head words, Similar words and Dissimilar words)
IMPORTANT POINTS
(1) This handout consists of words for discussion on denotation, connotation, collocation and vocabulary
development methods (head word and root word methods).
(2) The first set of random words is to facilitate discussion on connotations.
(3) The subsequent sets are to facilitate discussion on either root-based or head word-based vocabulary
development.
SET – I
Directions for questions 1 and 2: Discuss the denotations and positive, negative or neutral connotations of the words
given in the box below and from among them, identify the words that can logically fit in the blanks in the sentences that
follow (Choose the answer from the given words and only one answer per blank. You may use the appropriate form of
the word)
HEAD WORD : DEGENERATE
innocuous weak insipid

flat banal Innocent
unobjectionable safe painless
jejune inobnoxious sapless
1. He was so hungry that he devoured the food served to him although it was absolutely ________.
2. It was a perfectly _____ remark which was not meant to offend anyone.
SET – II
Directions for questions 3 and 4: Discuss the meanings of the words in the box given below and identify, from among
them, words that can logically fill in the blanks in the sentences that follow (Choose the answers from the given words
and only one answer per blank. You may use the appropriate form of the word)
HEAD WORD : DEGENERATE
corrupt dissolute
low nefarious
decadent perverted
effete retrogressive
depraved decayed
vitiated vicious
OPPOSITE WORD : MORAL
meritorious virtuous proper

kind decent clean
uncorrupt dutiful elevated
3. The _____ criminal who remained elusive for a long time was finally apprehended by the police.
4. He was so overcome by compunction, for having led a depraved life for several years, that he decided to turn over
a new leaf and lead a/an ____ life.
Directions for questions 5 and 6: Fill in the following WORD MAP with words related to the root in the word
‘RETROGRESSIVE’ and with other related words, and then identify words from among them that can logically fill in
the blanks in the sentences that follow (Choose the answer from the given words only, and only one answer per blank.
You must use the appropriate form of the word.
SIMILAR IN SENSE
SIMILAR IN SENSE RETROGRESSIVE
development,
(Minimum 4 words) advancement, growth
improvement,
OPPOSITE IN SENSE evolution, movement.
(Minimum 4 words)
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
SIMILAR IN SENSE
retreat, decline,
failure, stagnation,
wrong doing, lapse,
misbehaviour, halt, hindrance
ingress
disobedience,
indiscretion
SIMILAR IN SENSE
OPPOSITE IN SENSE (Minimum 4 words)

perfection, goodness,
kindness, obedience,
virtue
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
egress GRESS = to step,
(Minimum 4 words) to go regress
SIMILAR IN SENSE
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
(Minimum 4 words)
(Minimum 4 words)
SIMILAR IN SENSE SIMILAR IN SENSE
deviate, wander,
be direct, stay ramble, stray
5. She is very punctilious and meticulous in whatever she does and expects the same kind of _____ from her
subordinates as well.
6. You have to be extremely careful while executing this task because even a minor _______ might turn out to be
irreversible.
HOME WORK FOR STUDENTS (SET – ΙΙ)
Find below some other roots found in some of the words covered in the word map. Meanings of some words
related to such roots are provided. Can you guess the word?
Ι. Clin/cliv = slope, lean II. De = down, out, away, apart
(a) _____ : leaning, slope (a) _____ : go away, leave
(b) _____ : lay down, stretch out (b) ________ : express disapproval, criticize
(c) _____ : slant, gradient (c) ________ : reduce in quantity or numbers
(d) _____ : penchant, predilection (d) ________ : spoiling one’s reputation
(e) _____ : declination, descent (e) ________ : spoil the appearance of
ΙΙΙ. Mis = wrong, bad, hate IV. Dis = not a part, away
(a) _____ : one who hates mankind (a) _____ : clashing, inharmonious
(b) _____ : an unlucky accident (b) _____ : underrate, villify
(c) _____ : to intercept incorrectly (c) _____: prevent, hinder
(d) _____ : contrasting, diverse
(e) _____ : disperse, spread
(f) _____ : amplify, expand
(g) _____ : squander, waste
SET – III
Directions for questions 7 and 8: Discuss the meanings of the words in the box given below and identify, from among
them words that can logically fit in the blanks in the sentences that follow. (Choose the answers from the given words
only, and only one answer per blank. You may use the appropriate form of the word)
HEAD WORD : RICH
affluent well–heeled plush

well–off wealthy comfortable
loaded upscale prosperous
opulent cash-rich moneyed
OPPOSITE WORD : POOR
Indigent scanty impecunious

penurious destitute beggarly
bankrupt pauperized impoverished
hard up underprivileged unprosperous
7. His exiguous income was barely sufficient for him to lead a/an ______ life.
8. A drought like situation is looming large over the state due to the ______ rainfall received this season.
Directions for questions 9 and 10: Fill in the following WORD MAP with words related to the root in the word
‘AFFLUENT’ and with other related words, and then identify words from among them that can logically fit in the blanks in
the sentences that follow (Choose the answers from the given words only one answer per blank. You may use the
appropriate form of the word)
SIMILAR IN SENSE
AFFLUENT
easy, articulate
flowing, assured
confident, effortless
SIMILAR IN SENSE
(Minimum 4 words)
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
retreat, decline,
failure, stagnation,
halt, hindrance
OPPOSITE IN SENSE superfluous
(Minimum 4 words)
Flu/Flux = flow
SIMILAR IN SENSE
flowing together
meeting confluence flux
convergence, union
OPPOSITE IN SENSE SIMILAR IN SENSE OPPOSITE IN SENSE

divergence,
aberration, (Minimum 4 words) (Minimum 4 words)
separation detour,
departure
9. We had to take a ______ in order to reach the place as the main road was blocked due to a rally organized by the
agitating students of the university.
10. Having revised all the subjects thoroughly, Renu was _______ of performing well in the forthcoming examinations
HOME WORK FOR STUDENTS (SET – ΙΙΙ)
Ι. art/ arti = skill, craft (from articulate) ΙΙ. fid = faith, trust (from confident)
(a) _____ : painting, skill (a) _____ : sure, positive
(b) _____ : false, insincere (b) _____ : shyness, reserve
(c) _____: pretense, deception (c) _____ : disloyal, treacherous
(d) _____ : crafty, devious (d) ______ : loyalty, faithfulness
(e) _____ : simple, natural
ΙΙΙ. Con/ = with, together (from confluence) ΙV. super/ sur = above (from superfluous)
(a) _____ : fellow citizen (a) _____ : arrogant, haughty
(b) _____ : unite, come together (b) _____ : succeed, displace
(c) _____ : acquiescent (c) _____ : extra, redundant
(d) _____ : involvement (d) _____ : extra, redundant
(e) _____ : agreement, treaty (e) _____ : insuperable, insoluble
(f) _____ : agree, assent , coincide
SET – IV
Directions for questions 11 and 12: Discuss the meanings of the words in the box given below and identify, from
among them, words that can logically fit in the blanks in the sentences that follow (Choose the answer from the given
words and only one answer per blank. You may use the appropriate form of the word)
HEAD WORD : PACIFIC
soothing smooth still

restful amicable gentle
conciliating unruffled halcyon
peace-loving composed still
OPPOSITE WORD: TURBULENT
warlike rough contentious

militant quarrelsome combative
belligerent hostile sanguinary
11. He often recalls with nostalgia, the ______ days of childhood spent in his native village.
12. Most psychologists believe that people who had a ____ childhood tend to become violent and defiant adults.
SIMILAR IN SENSE
admiring, amorous, SIMILAR IN SENSE

words, ardent, AMICABLE
devoted, passionate, benevelovence,,
rapturous comity, concord,
cordiality, goodwill
harmony
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
hateful, unfriendly
hostile, resentful
amatory
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
aloofness, hostility,
disagreement, hostility,
discord, illlwill, dislike
AMI – love
amatory
amiable
OPPOSITE IN SENSE SIMILAR IN SENSE
(Minimum 4 words) SIMILAR IN SENSE (Minimum 4 words)
(Minimum 4 words)
OPPOSITE IN SENSE
(Minimum 4 words)
enamour
SIMILAR IN SENSE OPPOSITE IN SENSE
beguile, bewitch, annoy, bore, depress,

enthral, gratify, disappoint,
hypnotize, spellbind disenchant, disgust,
dissuade, repulse
HOME WORK FOR STUDENTS (SET – ΙV)
Ι. been = good (from benevolence) ΙΙ. cord / card = heart (from cordiality)
a) _____ : advantage; gain a) _____ : agreement; treaty
b) _____ : kindness, charity b) _____ : disagreement; dissonance
c) _____ : blessing c) _____ : pleasant, genial
d) _____ : genuine d) _____: basic, fundamental
ΙΙΙ. be = to make to have a certain quantity (from beguile) ΙV. en = in, into (from enthrall)
a) _____ : disparage, decry a) _____ : go into; go through
b) _____ : late, delayed b) _____ : attract; beguile
c) _____ : lament, bewail c) _____ : burden hamper
d) _____ : make friends with d) _____ : widespread, prevalent
e) _____ : confuse, baffle e) _____ : entrench, establish
f) _____ : leave, donate f) _____ : plead, beseech
13. He was a raconteur par excellence who could hold his audiences ________.
14. The city is a unique blend of cultures where people of different races and ethnic backgrounds live together in
perfect ________.
Directions for questions 1 to 20: In each question, there 3. (1) Despite all my persuasion I could not elicit (a) /
are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of illicit (b) a favourable response from him.
words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the (2) All citizens of the world must make a
italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most conscious (a) / conscience (b) effort to
appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences. conserve the earth's finite resources
Then, from the options given, choose the best one. (3) I am now paying a heavy price for having
neglected his wise council (a) / counsel (b).
1. (1) The revised salary will come into effect (a) / (4) All of us in the team resent her official (a) /
affect (b) from January onwards. officious (b) behaviour.
(2) A delicious black currant (a) / current (b) cake (A) aaab (B) aaba (C) bbbb (D) aabb
was served as the last course of the meal.
(3) The venial (a) / venal (b) politician was caught 4. (1) Ali is such an ingenious (a) / ingenuous (b)
red-handed while accepting a bribe. person that he can make veritable pieces of art
(4) The eminent (a) / imminent (b) cardio-thoracic from the most ordinary materials.
surgeon won the Surgeon of The Year award. (2) He displayed a remarkable flair (a) / flare (b)
(A) baaa (B) aaba (C) abbb (D) abba for writing poetry even when he was a child.
(3) All his teachers and friends complimented (a) /
2. (1) The professor made an illusion (a) / allusion (b) complemented (b) him on his amazing
to Milton’s Paradise Lost in her lecture. performance.
(2) Her conscience (a) / conscious (b) prevented (4) Good communication skills have become a
her from telling a lie. perquisite (a) / prerequisite (b) for every job.
(3) The home minister laid a wreath (a) / wreathe (A) abab (B) baab (C) aaab (D) baaa
(b) at the war memorial as a tribute to the 5. (1) His turgid (a)/ turbid (b) style of writing fails to
martyrs who laid down their lives defending their appeal to the ordinary reader.
country. (2) Due to a major landslide on one of the main
(4) I cited (a) / sighted (b) a famous quotation form ghat roads we were forced to take a tortuous (a) /
Shakespeare before beginning my speech. torturous (b) route in order to reach our
(A) baaa (B) abab (C) babb (D) bbba destination.
(3) The government intends to proscribe (a) / 11. (1) Imposing huge taxes on the poor and middle
prescribe (b) the export of life saving drugs. class was deplored as an immoral (a) / amoral (b)
(4) Being a woman of principle (a) / principal (b) act of the monarchy.
she is held in high esteem by her friends and (2) One must not become complacent (a) /
colleagues. complaisant (b) about one's achievements.
(A) aaaa (B) abab (C) baaa (D) bbab (3) On a long distance flight I always prefer the
aisle (a) / isle (b) seat rather than the window
6. (1) Some people consider the cracking of a mirror seat.
as a portent(a) / potent(b) of a great disaster. (4) We were accused by our partners of a breech (a) /
(2) Socialism advocates equable (a) / equitable (b) breach (b) in our agreement.
distribution of wealth. (A) aabb (B) aaab (C) abab (D) abba
(3) The politician’s inflammable (a) / inflammatory (b)
speech roused the patriotic spirit of the 12. (1) When he started looking at the clock I knew that
students. it was a cue (a) / queue (b) for us to leave.
(4) Since he could not sustain his family on his (2) I made a rough draught (a) / draft (b) of my
exigent (a) / exiguous (b) income he resorted speech and tried to improve on it.
to taking bribes. (3) He took a deep breath, to curb (a) / kerb (b) his
(A) aabb (B) abbb (C) baab (D) abab temper.
(4) The role of the police is to ensure (a) / insure (b)
7. (1) We were forced to alter (a) / altar (b) our plans that people abide by the law.
owing to certain insurmountable circumstances. (A) baba (B) abba (C) abaa (D) abab
(2) Her performance was so brilliant that even her
worst critics could not forbear (a) / forebear (b) 13. (1) During the medieval period many a duel (a) /
from complimenting her. dual (b) was fought over a lady.
(3) His ascent (a) / assent (b) to the top-most (2) Mr Raman, the new CEO of the company
position in the corporate ladder was due to his hails(a) / hales(b) from a remote village in
sheer diligence, tenacity and self – confidence. Tamil Nadu.
(4) The rate of inflation, which was stationary (a) / (3) During the course of the raid, the police
stationery (b) for several months, escalated discovered that the traders had been hoarding (a)
suddenly leaving the economy in a shambles. / hording (b) food grains.
(A) aaaa (B) baab (C) abab (D) bbba (4) The foreword (a) / forward (b) for my debut
novel was written by one of the most eminent
8. (1) The accused waited with bated (a) / baited (b) writers of our time.
breath for the judge to pronounce his verdict. (A) abab (B) aaaa (C) baaa (D) baba
(2) A team of experts was sent to the state to
appraise (a) / apprise (b) the damage caused 14. (1) Walking and physical exercise can militate (a) /
by the floods. mitigate (b) the ill effects of a sedentary life.
(3) The barmy (a) / balmy (b) weather of the (2) He is aspiring for a career (a) / carrier (b) in the
country side soothed the frayed nerves of the armed forces.
townsfolk. (3) Sharath was loath (a) / loathe (b) to investing
(4) The serial (a) / cereal (b) killer who remained his money in the share market.
elusive for a long time was finally apprehended (4) People who are lactose intolerant must refrain
by the police. from consuming dairy (a) / diary (b) products.
(A) aaba (B) baba (C) bbbb (D) abaa (A) baaa (B) abab (C) baba (D) bbab
9. (1) Harish tried to diffuse (a) / defuse (b) the 15. (1) The President of America held a meeting with
highly charged atmosphere in the room by his council of ministers at the capital (a) /
cracking a joke. capitol (b) today.
(2) Children should be apprised of the importance (2) Dr.Sen was a notable (a) / noticeable (b)
of oral (a) / aural (b) hygiene. professor in the university.
(3) I made discreet (a) / discrete (b) enquiries (3) Several heritage structures were razed (a) /
about his conduct and character before offering raised (b) to the ground during the road
him employment. widening operations.
(4) See that you are upto date with your lessons, (4) Teachers must device (a) / devise (b)
there is no use pouring (a) / poring (b) over innovative ways of capturing the interest of the
your books in the last minute. student in a subject.
(A) abaa (B) bbbb(C) baab (D) aabb (A) aaab (B) baab (C) abab (D) bbba
10. (1) The management censored (a) / censured (b) 16. (1) The government feels that conceding to the
him for his irresponsible behaviour. demands of the naxalites would set a dangerous
(2) The food in this restaurant caters to the taste of precedence (a) / precedent (b).
even the most discriminating palate (a) / (2) India is a statutory (a) / signatory (b) to the
palette (b). Asia Pacific Peace Treaty.
(3) I finally decided to broach (a) / brooch (b) the (3) The chief minister formally (a) / formerly (b)
subject of my salary hike with my boss. declared the sports meet open.
(4) The hostess treated us to a lavish seven (4) He attributed his defect to plain (a) / plane (b)
course (a) / coarse (b) meal. bad luck.
(A) aaab (B) baaa (C) bbaa (D) baba (A) abaa (B) bbab (C) babb (D) bbaa
17. (1) The naxals tried to avenge (a) / revenge (b) 24. (A) manoevre (B) aggrandize
the killing of their comrades in a police (C) precipetate (D) legetimize
encounter, by indulging in arson.
(2) It was a sheer (a) / shear (b) delight to watch 25. (A) fracteious (B) froudulent
the dancers, dressed in colourful costumes, (C) acrimonious (D) narcicistic
perform gracefully to the lilt of the music.
(3) My family physician recommended (a) / 26. (A) finnesse (B) conciliation
referred (b) me to a pulmonologist. (C) virtuousity (D) sqvalour
(4) The meat was tender and succulent because it
was brazed (a) / braised (b) in the stock for 27. (A) unceremonious (B) avarecious
more than two hours. (C) adventorous (D) posthuomus
(A) aaba (B) aabb (C) bbab (D) bbba
28. (A) pussilanimuous (B) timeorous
18. (1) The demure (a) / demur (b) bride made a (C) dimunitive (D) preposterous
pretty picture in all her bridal finery.
(2) Don't venture out in the cold weather lest your 29. (A) mediveal (B) primeval
cold should get aggravated (a) / irritated (b). (C) coeveal (D) alluvieal
(3) His foster parents never revealed to him that he
was their adopted (a) / adoptive (b) son. 30. (A) stupenduous (B) deciduous
(4) I had a restful (a) / restive (b) sleep last night (C) tremenduous (D) horrenduous
after several days of insomnia.
(A) aaba (B) aaaa (C) abaa (D) baba 31. (A) tempestuous (B) conscientiuous
(C) licencious (D) maliecious
19. (1) Sir Dixon, a man of mettle (a) / metal (b),
proved to be a formidable opponent to his
32. (A) ambeguity (B) magnificense
enemies.
(C) solicituousness (D) ingenuousness
(2) The failure of monsoon for the third consecutive
year does not augur (a) / auger (b) well for the
33. (A) deferenchial (B) influential
economy of the country.
(C) provedential (D) consiquential
(3) John was forced to take up another metier (a) /
meter (b) in order to supplement his income.
34. (A) peaen (B) panigyric
(4) She is very adept (a) / adopt (b) at cooking
(C) acclaimation (D) extolment
exotic meals.
(A) aabb (B) abab (C) abba (D) aaaa
35. (A) euphoneous (B) diaphanuous
20. (1) Despite his best efforts success remained (C) melliflous (D) cacophonous
effusive (a) / elusive (b) for her.
(2) The police are trying to investigate the reason Directions for question 36 to 40: Identify the correct
behind the grisly (a) / grizzly (b) murder. spelling of the given word.
(3) He plans to spend a quiet (a) / quite (b) retired
life in his native village. 36. (A) ephimeral (B) ephemeral
(4) I am a bit of a sceptic (a) / septic (b) who does (C) efimeral (D) effimeral
not trust an indigenous system of medicine.
(A) aaaa (B) bbba (C) abbb (D) baaa 37. (A) effervescence (B) effervecensce
(C) effervesence (D) efferrvescence
Directions for questions 21 to 35: Identify the word
which is correctly spelt. 38. (A) zealuosness (B) zealosuness
(C) zealousness (D) zealuousness
21. (A) persuvasive (B) unfaultering
(C) presumptuous (D) prestegious 39. (A) irresistable (B) irressistable
(C) irressistible (D) irresistible
22. (A) accomadation (B) sommersault
(C) acomplishment (D) resilience 40. (A) phlegmaticism (B) phlegmaticisum
23. (A) clamorus (B) parochieal (C) phlegmaticsam (D) phlegmaticusim
(C) precoccious (D) mammoth
Directions for questions 1 to 10: Read the following 2. The company has decided to cut across expenditure
sentences and from among the options choose the best in view of the ongoing recession.
replacement for the underlined part of the sentence. (A) cut back
(B) cut off
1. The Chennai Super Kings and the Delhi Dare Devils (C) cut out
are preparing to square up, early next week, for the (D) cut in
first match, of the series.
(A) square with 3. The marriage fell over because the couple realized
(B) square off that they were totally incompatible.
(C) square on (A) fell out (B) fell off
(D) square out (C) fell apart (D) fell behind
4. It is always prudent to lay out some money for 15. Tommy will burn himself out if he doesn't slow down.
a rainy day. (A) catch fire (B) outdo
(A) lay aside (B) lay apart (C) exhaust (D) hurt
(C) lay down (D) lay in
16. I now call upon the President to address the
5. It is advisable to keep away fatty food in order to assembly.
ward off heart attacks and other lifestyle related (A) telephone (B) invite
diseases. (C) expect (D) substitute
(A) keep off (B) keep out of
(C) keep down (D) keep back 17. The government has decided to clamp down on
smoking in public places.
6. She was visibly hurt by his remarks, I could see her (A) take strict action in order to prevent
desperately trying to hold down tears. (B) restrict mildly
(A) hold on to (B) hold up (C) facilitate
(C) hold over (D) hold back (D) make an announcement regarding
7. The two friends who met after a long time, were 18. Do people usually dress up to go to the opera in
seen catching out on each other's health and your country?
families. (A) wear very strange clothes
(A) catching with (B) catching over (B) put on a dress
(C) catching up (D) catching in (C) wear elaborate makeup
(D) wear elegant clothes
8. In our country, corruption runs right across all
sections of society. 19. Though she is talkative at home, she clams up as
(A) runs through (B) runs over soon as she reaches school.
(C) runs against (D) runs into (A) to behave very rudely
(B) to be very quiet
9. The government’s decision to pull back the heritage (C) to be very sociable
structure and build a new commercial complex in its (D) become confused
place, drew flak from the public.
(A) pull up (B) pull down 20. Local authorities backed down on their plans to
(C) pull through (D) pull aside demolish the building.
(A) supported with irrefutable evidence
10. The government decided to roll down the prices of (B) asked for help
essential commodities owing to pressure from the (C) reduced the scale of
opposition parties. (D) retracted
(A) roll in (B) roll over
Directions for questions 21 to 35: In each question, there
(C) roll back (D) roll up
are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of
Directions for questions 11 to 20: The underlined part words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the
in each sentence is a phrasal verb which is explained italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most
correctly in one of the four choices that follow. Pick out appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences.
the correct choice. Then, from the options given, choose the best one.
21. (A) The pickpocket rifled (a)/riffled (b) through

11. Last I saw her, she was putting on the shirt.
the wallet looking for cash.
(A) hanging to dry
(B) The piquant (a) / pique (b) sauce served along
(B) dressing someone else
with the starters was delicious.
(C) in the process of wearing
(C) She is an inveterate traveler who often travels
(D) pouring something on
to exotic a) / esoteric (b) locations all over the
12. The police have now zeroed in on the possibility of world.
the father-in-law being the culprit. (D) She was ambiguous (a) / ambivalent (b) about
(A) decided her new job in an alien city.
(B) narrowed down to (A) a a a b (B) b a a b (C) a a a a (D) b b a b
(C) ruled out 22. (A) All the students are expected to abide by
(D) made famous the rules and regulations and those who
are found guilty of flouting (a)/ flaunting
13. The problem boils down to a lack of money.
(b) them are liable to be penalized.
(A) can be summarized as
(B) All citizens of the nation should make
(B) leaves as residue
a collective effort to work for mutual (a)/
(C) is caused due to
common (b) good.
(D) ultimately leads to
(C) Life in the society came to a standstill following
14. Immanuel had to brush up on his Spanish before a series of attacks perpetrated (a)/
going to Madrid. perpetuated (b) by terrorists.
(A) depend upon (D) Johnson was felicitated by the management for
(B) make perfect rendering meretricious (a)/ meritorious (b)
(C) refresh service to the organization.
(D) use extensively (A) a b a b (B) a b b a (C) a b b b (D) a a b b
23. (A) Beside (a) / Besides (b) being an eminent 28. (A) She endeared herself to everyone with
orator, he was a polyglot who could speak her impeccable manners and childish
21 languages fluently. (a)/ childlike (b) innocence.
(B) People belonging to various sections of society (B) Elizabeth Green was a renowned social worker
strongly opposed the government’s move to and a voracious (a)/ vociferous (b) champion
bring down the heritage structure which was of of human rights.
historic (a)/ historical (b) significance. (C) The statutes (a)/ statures (b) of several
(C) If you act indifferently and do not express your countries have banned capital punishment.
opinion, you would be conniving (a) (D) The doctors gave us a faint (a)/ feint (b) hope
/conspiring (b) in an injustice. of his recovery.
(A) a a a a (B) b b a a (C) b a a a (D) a b a a
(D) The opposition party accused the government
of pandering (a)/ pampering (b) to the 29. (A) Stress and sedentary lifestyle can have
demands of the minorities. an adverse (a)/ averse (b) effect on
(A) b b a a (B) b b b b (C) b a b b (D) b b b a one’s health.
(B) He is in a foul (a)/ fowl (b) mood because he
24. (A) The children were greatly amused (a)/ had a bad day at work today.
bemused (b) by the clown’s antics. (C) Acting on a tip-off, the police raided the place
(B) Despite being aware that life is ephemeral (a)/ and discovered a huge cache (a)/ cash (b) of
ethereal (b) people still cling to their lives. arms.
(D) Bread made of whole (a)/ hole (b) grain is
(C) As the management failed to accede (a)/
considered to be beneficial for health when
exceed (b) to their demands, the workers
decided to go ahead with the strike. compared to bread made of refined flour.
(A) a a a a (B) a a b a (C) a b b a (D) a b a a
(D) The king abdicated his throne and chose to lead
an ascetic (a)/ aesthetic (b) life. 30. (A) Extreme weather conditions are likely to
(A) a a a b (B) a a b b (C) a b b b (D) a a a a wreak (a)/ wreck (b) havoc on the economy
of the country.
25. (A) The concurrent (a)/ consecutive (b) strikes (B) The Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey
by the employees of various sectors had to estimate the damage afflicted (a)/ inflicted
a crippling effect on the economy of (b) by the floods.
the country. (C) Don’t divulge this news to anyone; this is just
(B) He advised me to make a few discrete (a)/ between (a)/ among (b) you and me.
discreet (b) enquires before signing the deal. (D) There were dissenting (a)/ descenting (b)
(C) Since he failed to mend his aberrant (a)/ views from people belonging to different
abhorrent (b) behaviour despite several sections of society with regard to the
warnings, he was fired from the organization. government order.
(D) During our college days, Jack used to regale us (A) a b b b (B) a b a a (C) a a a b (D) a b b a
with interesting anecdotes (a)/ antidotes (b).
(A) a b a b (B) a b a a (C) b a a a (D) b b a a 31. (A) I am planning to visit my friend’s place
this weekend for its (a)/ it’s (b) been a
26. (A) The minister said that the government would long time since l last met her.
take every possible step to ameliorate (a)/ (B) The audience were spellbound by the tricks
alleviate (b) the lot of the debt-ridden farmers. performed by the magician through sheer
(B) Father’s deteriorating health has been giving us sleight (a) /slight (b) of hand.
eager (a)/ anxious (b) moments for the past (C) The advent of portable laptops has rendered
few months. typewriters archaic (a)/ arcane (b).
(C) His appointment as the vice-president of the (D) He traces his line of decent (a)/ descent (b) to
organization now seems a certitude (a)/ the Kachuwaha rulers of Rajasthan.
certainty (b). (A) b b b b (B) b a a b (C) a b a b (D) b b b a
(D) Lightning (a)/ Lightening (b) strikes are
32. (A) All our efforts to persuade her to change
reported to have led to the conflagration in the
her mind were in vain (a)/ vane (b) because
forest area.
she was absolutely unrelenting.
(A) b a a b (B) b b b a (C) a a a a (D) a b b a
(B) They were altogether (a)/ all together (b)
dissatisfied by the arrangements made by the
27. (A) People generally detest his company organizing committee.
because he is known to have a viscous (C) The young lad vowed that he would avenge (a)/
(a)/ vicious (b) temper. revenge (b) his father’s murder.
(B) Several voluntary organizations came forward (D) You must broach (a)/ brooch (b) the issue with
to provide aide (a)/ aid (b) to the hapless utmost caution, as it is highly sensitive.
refugees. (A) a a b b (B) b a a a (C) b b a b (D) a a a a
(C) It is very important to consume healthy (a)/
healthful (b) food in order to keep oneself fit. 33. (A) His business expanded tremendously
over a span of five years owing to his
(D) The band of musicians received a standing hardworking nature and shrewd business
ovation for its credible (a)/ creditable (b) acuity (a)/ acumen (b).
performance. (B) A solution to the problem of environmental
(A) a b a a (B) b b a b (C) a b a b (D) b b b b degradation still remains elusive (a)/ allusive (b).
(C) The International Conference on Foreign Trade (D) After working for six hours without a break, I
was attended by the who’s (a)/ whose (b) who stepped out to catch a breath (a)/ breathe (b)
of the business community. of fresh air.
(D) During the summer months, the people of the (A) b b b b (B) b b b a (C) a b b a (D) a a b a
drought-hit villages have to walk several
kilometers to fetch portable (a)/ potable (b) 35. (A) My conscience (a)/ conscious (b) prevented
water. me from telling a lie to my mother.
(A) a a a b (B) a b a b (C) b a b b (D) b a a b (B) The principal (a)/ principle (b) reason for the
delay in executing this project is lack of resources.
34. (A) Over a period of time, she overcame her (C) The train had all ready (a)/ already (b) arrived
initial reluctance (a)/ reticence (b) and at the platform, by the time we reached the
started mingling freely with others. station.
(B) He is a very conscientious worker and is (D) We failed to understand the rational (a)/
through (a)/ thorough (b) in whatever he does. rationale (b) behind implementing these new
(C) Despite his meteoric assent (a)/ ascent (b) to rules.
wealth and fame, he is humble and down to (A) a b b b (B) a a a b (C) a a b b (D) a b a b
earth.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

Directions for questions 1 and 2: The underlined part in 4. If my younger brother refuses to ________ my plans
each sentence is an idiom which is explained correctly in one I can probably find someone else more co-operative.
of the four choices that follow. Pick out the correct choice. (A) fall in with (B) fall away
(C) fall down (D) fall for
1. The pedestrian dodged the vehicle by the skin of his
teeth. Directions for question 5: In the following question,
(A) through great effort there are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of
(B) very narrowly words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From
(C) in the manner of a hero the italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select
(D) awkwardly the most appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct
sentences. Then, from the options given, choose the
2. We expect Lee to get good grades again since he best one.
really keeps his nose to the grindstone.
(A) works very hard 5. (A) She balked (a)/ baulked (b) at the idea of
(B) minds his own business spending ten thousand rupees on the
(C) flatters those who matter outfit.
(D) studies according to a fixed plan (B) He gave me an incredible (a)/ incredulous (b)
look when I, revealed the secret to him.
Directions for questions 3 and 4: Fill in the blanks with (C) One can achieve perfection in whatever one does,
appropriate phrasal verbs. through constant practice (a)/ practise (b).
(D) In order to provide succor to the distressed
3. Embarassed by the expose, the Secretary of farmers, the government decided to waive (a)/
Defence offered to _______. wave (b) the taxes levied on procuring fertilizers
(A) stand in (B) stand down and farm equipment.
(C) stand over (D) stand back (A) b b a a (B) b b a b (C) a b b a (D) a b b b
Directions for questions 1 to 5: There are two blanks (C) acclaimed . . . minimal
in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of (D) disproved . . . salubrious
words given below each sentence, choose the pair that
fills the blanks most appropriately. 3. _____ are among the most valuable molecules in
medicine today because of their ability to _____
1. Apart from _____ a famous victory for the Prime micro-organisms like bacteria.
Minister, the mid-term poll stratagem _____ many (A) Antibiotics . . . destroy
things for him. (B) Steroids . . . replicate
(A) garnering . . . achieved (C) Capsules . . . fortify
(B) denying . . . accumulated (D) Nutrients . . . nourish
(C) bestowing . . . rebuffed
(D) thumbing down . . . confirmed 4. The recent _____ in the United States’ interest rates
to their lowest level in four decades was an attempt
2. The connections between physical, emotional, and to _____ deflation from taking hold in the world’s
mental health are widely _____, and scientific biggest economy.
research indicates that regular exercise plays a vital (A) depletion . . . increase
role in achieving _____ health in all three areas. (B) amplification . . . deter
(A) regulated . . . maximum (C) reduction . . . prevent
(B) accepted . . . optimal (D) plummet . . . abet
5. _____ a food recipe, the art of hospitality cannot be 12. WHITTLED DOWN : Mr. Arun Shourie has slowly and
taught through a set of instructions; it has to be steadily whittled down the opposition to privatisation.
imparted and _____ only through example. (A) consumed (B) carved
(A) Just like . . . instructed (C) eroded (D) trimmed
(B) Similar to . . . observed
(C) Like . . . learnt 13. CONCILIATORY : It was the right conciliatory note to
(D) Unlike . . . imbibed strike in a debate that has had its fair share of heat.
(A) propitiatory (B) ameliorative
Directions for questions 6 to 10: In each question, a word (C) condoning (D) propitiating
is used in four different ways, A to D. Choose the option in
which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate. 14. TROUNCE : Steve Waugh’s words were inspirational
enough to help the team trounce the Pakistanis in
6. PITCH the final.
(A) We had little hope of getting the contract as we (A) spank (B) chastise
were pitched against well-established companies. (C) lambast (D) rout
(B) The protestors pitched their tent outside the
secretariat. 15. INCONTROVERTIBLE : The weapons inspector’s
(C) You must have an ear for rhythm and pitch to report was not expected to provide incontrovertible
be a successful musician. evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
(D) We all pitched a day’s salary to help the (A) conclusive (B) disputable
tsunami victims. (C) inconvenient (D) indecisive
7. RIGHT Directions for questions 16 to 20: Each question has
(A) Driving on the right side of the road is the a pair of CAPITALISED words followed by four pairs of
normal practice in America. words. Choose the pair of words that best expresses a
(B) Parents are right to be proud of their children. relationship similar to that expressed by the capitalized pair.
(C) Every woman must stand up for her rights.
(D) Arathi plays the violin with a band but she is a 16. VITUPERATIVE : SCURRILOUS
playback singer in her own rights. (A) Pristine : Immaculate
(B) Minimum : Negligent
8. RATE
(C) Reclusive : Melancholic
(A) There is expected to be an unprecedented
(D) Tenacious : Strident
increase in the rate of petrol in the next few months.
(B) Despite the low interest rate, fixed deposits of
17. INFLUENTIAL : IMPUISSANT
nationalised banks are safe options to invest
(A) Taciturn : Stupefied
one’s money in.
(B) Ductile : Intransigent
(C) At any rate, he will be back at work in a couple
(C) Diaphanous : Awkward
of weeks.
(D) Salacious : Gratuitous
(D) The interviewer asked me how I would rate
myself on a scale of ten.
18. BALLISTA : BOULDERS
9. STOP (A) Harpoon : Spears
(A) We were forced to stop the game owing to the (B) Boomerang : Missiles
incessant rain. (C) Bazooka : Arrows
(B) After a brief stop, we resumed our journey. (D) Trebuchet : Stones
(C) He is very outspoken and nothing can stop him
from giving vent to his thoughts. 19. BUREAUCRACY : OFFICIALS
(D) The baby will not stop bawling unless he is (A) Imperialism : Aristocrats
cuddled by his mother. (B) Democracy : Constitution
(C) Hierocracy : Priests
10. ILL (D) Dictatorship : Monarch
(A) Krithika’s overt praise made me feel illl at ease.
(B) Several people were taken ill after consuming 20. VIGILANTES : MORALS
the contaminated food. (A) Abetters : Coaching
(C) Rahul is not my best friend but I wish him no ill. (B) Emperors : Directions
(D) The mother nursed her ill child with great care (C) Arbiters : Disputes
and affection. (D) Acolytes : Controversy
Directions for questions 11 to 15: For the word given Directions for questions 21 to 25: Fill in the blanks in
in each question, a contextual usage is provided. Pick the passage below, with the most appropriate word from
the word from among the choices, that is the most among the options given for each blank. The right words
appropriate substitute for the question word in the given are the ones used by the author. Be guided by the
context and mark its corresponding latter as your answer author’s overall style and meaning when you choose
your answer.
11. SPURT: The government has directed oil companies
to freeze retail prices of petrol and diesel despite a With their imposing colonial era architecture, lush lawns
spurt in the price of Brent crude. and prime locations, India’s most exclusive clubs have
(A) surge (B) cascade always been (21) of the privileged, of which diplomats
(C) torrent (D) flurry are an especially (22) tribe. Established through the 19th
century, these clubs were used by colonists as (23) 29. (i) The eco-conscious politician strongly eschewed
refuges from the native hordes. Haughty resistance to (a) / espoused (b) the use of plastic bags.
criticism and (24) against reform means some rules will (ii) Rose had gone into the other room to minister
remain, and leave the clubs (25) in their colonial (a) / administer (b) to the needs of the guests.
affectations for quite a while yet. If you want in, get in (iii) The accused was inculpated (a) / exculpated
line, it’s a long one and straighten your tie. (b) of all charges for lack of incontrovertible
evidence.
21. (A) haunts (B) preserves (iv) The tenacious pursuit (a) / perusal (b) of the
(C) resorts (D) havens documents finally yielded some concrete
22. (A) exasperating (B) galling results.
(C) hallowed (D) erudite
23. (A) philistine (B) churlish
(C) indecorous (D) urbane 30. (i) The petty criminal beseeched (a) / bespoke (b)
the judge for mercy.
24. (A) tumult (B) inertia (ii) Culture doesn't exist in a vacuum. We often
(C) potency (D) pursuit conflate (a) / conflagrate (b) elements from
25. (A) abjuring (B) ensconced various civilizations.
(C) spurning (D) abdicating (iii) A person/s indigence (a) / indolence (b) is not
always a matter of choice. Who you are born to
Directions for questions 26 to 30: In each question, there has something to do with how well you do in life
are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of financially.
words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the (iv) The actor's inept (a) / adept (b) portrayal of
italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most Julius Caesar drew severe flak from the theatre
appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences enthusiasts.
and indicate the letters corresponding with the correct
words, in the box provided below each question.
26. (a) It was balmy (a) / barmy (b) of Steven to
believe that celestial movements could explain
questions below, a word with its usage is given. Select
his rather mundane mishaps.
as your answer, the word that is inappropriate as
(ii) Ravi struggled with himself as he pondered how to
a replacement to the question word in the sentence.
broach (a) / brooch (b) the topic of his romance.
(iii) The lobbyists strongly canvassed (a) /
31. COLLATE: Many disclaimers in web pages avow
canvased (b) the Republican candidate for his
that they have collected and collated the
pro-corporate policies.
information in good faith but proclaim that they are
(iv) The bough (a) / bow (b) of the Titanic was
not responsible for its accuracy.
headed for a frontal collision with the iceberg.
(A) encumbered (B) composed
(C) examined (D) mustered
27. (i) Unable to bear the censure (a) / censor (b) of 32. FRAGMENTED: We live in a world in which time
his movie by the critics the director became and space are fragmented and our attention is
reclusive. divided, continually switching back and forth
(ii) The complacent (a) / complaisant (b) nature between different streams of sensory inputs.
of Shyam appealed to his friend who was (A) shattered (B) splintered
pleased with his kowtowing. (C) immoderate (D) broken
(iii) Madhuri's wedding gown titivated (a) /
titillated (b) her beauty further. 33. BEREFT: Several areas where tiger poaching is
(iv) The epicure’s palate (a) / pallette (b) was non-existent are surprisingly bereft of the amber-
piqued by the variety of the arena on display. eyed cat because its preferred prey have become
rare or have even vanished.
(A) devoid (B) emitted
(C) robbed (D) divested
28. (i) The residents of the violence ravaged city were
immured (a) / incurred (b) to their houses by 34. BESET: The primordial ignorance which besets all
the curfew. human beings due to the Lord's power of ‘Maya’,
(ii) The dual (a) / duel (b) nature of man in can be overcome only by divine grace and not by
conflicting impulses is explained in Jewish human ingenuity.
philosophy by the yetzer tov (good impulse) and (A) encloses (B) exerts
yetzer ra (bad impulse). (C) besieges (D) perplexes
(iii) The politician laid the wreath (a) / wreathe (b) on
the tomb of the long deceased national leader. 35. STULTIFYING: Inadequate English equivalents of
(iv) The directors came up with their own Urdu words, idioms and other expressions have had
explanation for what the rating agencies a stultifying effect on the English language abilities
implied (a) / inferred (b) in their report about of some of the Urdu speaking people in the sub-
the future of the company. continent.
(A) benumbing (B) stirring
(C) constraining (D) hampering
Directions for questions 1 and 2: There are two blanks 4. HUMANE : FIENDISH
in each of the following sentences. From the pairs of (A) Gregarious : Sociable
words given below each sentence, choose the pair that (B) Defamatory : Complimentary
fills the blanks most appropriately. (C) Risible : Ludicrous
(D) Catastrophic : Calamitous
1. In 1915, Einstein succeeded in _____ the theory of
relativity to matter in acceleration, resulting in a new Directions for question 5: In the following question,
theory of gravitation, where mass was _____ as the there are five sentences. Each sentence has pairs of
curvature of space-time. words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From
(A) relating ...considered the italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select
(B) reaching ...named the most appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct
(C) formulating ...classified sentences and indicate the letters corresponding with the
(D) extending ...identified correct words in the box provided below the question.
2. The dismal health and nutrition situation, implying a
5. (i) While she had realised that her father would be
poor state of food and nutrition _____ in both rural
unhappy about her decision to discontinue
and urban India, needs to be _____ on a war
studies, she did not expect him to fulminate (a)
footing.
/ culminate (b) as he did.
(A) security...addressed
(ii) It hurts to see him flounder (a) / founder (b) in
(B) value ...directed
the simplest of situations, especially when we
(C) shares ...attended
recall how self-assured he was before his illness.
(D) standard ...focussed
(iii) In his answers to the prosecutor's questions
Directions for questions 3 and 4: Each question has a about the accident, the eye-witness displayed
pair of CAPITALISED words followed by four pairs of absolute integrity (a) / honesty (b).
words. Choose the pair of words that best expresses a (iv) Locating his house (a) / home (b) took me the
relationship similar to that expressed by the capitalized pair. better part of the day.
(v) He's such an egotist (a) / egoist (b), he
3. ECLAT : PANACHE actually thinks we'd be sad to see him go!.
(A) Rectitude : Probity
(B) Timorousness : Defiance
(C) Opprobrium: Perfidy
(D) Recalcitrance : Docility
Key
1. A 7. C 13. C 19. A 29. D 35. C 41. D
2. B 8. D 14. A 20. D 30. D 36. C 42. A
3. C 9. D 15. B 25. D 31. D 37. A 43. B
4. C 10. D 16. B 26. C 32. D 38. D 44. D
5. D 11. A 17. D 27. B 33. B 39. B 45. C
6. A 12. C 18. C 28. C 34. B 40. C
1. B 7. B 18. C 24. C 30. B 36. C 42. C
2. D 8. B 19. D 25. B 31. B 37. C 43. B
3. C 9. B 20. A 26. D 32. D 38. A 44. D
4. C 10. C 21. A 27. B 33. A 39. B 45. C
5. A 16. B 22. B 28. C 34. D 40. D
6. B 17. D 23. D 29. A 35. D 41. A
1. B 8. D 15. A 22. A 29. Yes 36. A 43. D
2. A 9. C 16. C 23. B 30. Yes 37. C 44. C
3. D 10. D 17. A 24. D 31. D 38. D 45. A
4. A 11. A 18. A 25. C 32. C 39. B
5. B 12. B 19. C 26. Yes 33. A 40. A
6. B 13. D 20. A 27. Yes 34. A 41. A
7. C 14. B 21. C 28. No 35. D 42. D
*Refer to explanatory notes
1. B 6. B 11. B 16. D 21. C 26. B 31. A 36. B
2. A 7. A 12. C 17. B 22. D 27. A 32. D 37. A
3. D 8. A 13. B 18. B 23. D 28. D 33. B 38. C
4. C 9. C 14. A 19. D 24. B 29. B 34. D 39. D
5. A 10. B 15. B 20. D 25. C 30. B 35. D 40. A
1. B 6. D 11. C 16. B 21. A 26. D 31. B
2. A 7. C 12. B 17. A 22. A 27. D 32. D
3. C 8. A 13. A 18. D 23. A 28. B 33. D
4. A 9. B 14. C 19. B 24. D 29. A 34. B
5. A 10. C 15. C 20. D 25. B 30. B 35. C

1. B 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. A
1. A 7. D 13. A 19. C 25. B 31. A
2. B 8. A 14. D 20. C 26. baab 32. C
3. A 9. B 15. A 21. C 27. abaa 33. B
4. C 10. D 16. A 22. C 28. aaaa 34. B
5. D 11. A 17. B 23. D 29. aabb 35. B
6. D 12. C 18. D 24. B 30. aaaa
1. D 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. aabaa

SM1001941 Part-II PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SM1001941 Part-II PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

SM1001941 Part-II PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

VOCABULARY

ab, abs from, away from ABDUCT lead away, kidnap

ambi, amphi both AMBIDEXTROUS skilled with both

an, a without AGNOSTIC without belief in god

ante before ANTECEDENT preceding event or

anti against, opposite ANTAGONIZE oppose

apo away, from, off APOSTATE one who stands away

be over, thoroughly BEDAUB smear over

bene well BENEVOLENCE good will

bi two BICAMERAL composed of two

cata down CATASTROPHE disaster

circum around CIRCUMNAVIGATE sail around

contra, contro against CONTRAVENE conflict with

de down, away DEBASE lower in value

demi partly, half DEMIGOD partly divine being

di two DICHOTOMY division into two parts

dis, dif not, apart DISCORD lack of harmony

dys faulty, bad DYSLEXIA faulty ability to read

eu well EUPHONY on agreeable sound

ex, e out EXPEL drive out

extra, extro beyond, outside EXTRACURRICULAR beyond the curriculum

hyper above; excessively HYPERBOLE exaggeration

hypo beneath, lower HYPOGLYCAEMIA low blood sugar

in, il, im, ir not INARTICULATE not clear or distinct

in, il, im, ir in, on, upon INVITE call in

inter between, among INTERVENE come between

intra, intro within INTRAMURAL within a school

macro large, long MACROBIOTIC tending to prolong life

mega great, million MEGALOMANIA delusions of grandeur

meta involving change METAMORPHOSIS change of form

micro small MICROCOSM miniature universe

mis bad, improper MISDEMEANOUR minor crime; bad

mono one MONARCHY government by one ruler

multi many MULTIFARIOUS having many parts

neo new NEOLOGISM newly coined word

non not NONCOMMITTAL undecided

ob, oc, of, op against OBLOQUY infamy; disgrace

olig few OLIGARCHY government by a few

omni all OMNIVOROUS eating everything

pan all, every PANACEA cure-all

para beyond, related PARALLEL similar

per, pel through, completely PERMEABLE allowing passage through

peri around, near PERIPATETIC walking around from

poly many POLYGAMIST person with several

post after POSTERITY generations that follow

pre, pro before PREAMBLE introductory statement

prim first PRIMORDIAL existing at the dawn

pro forward, in favour of PROPULSIVE driving forward

proto first PROTOTYPE first of its kind

retro backward RETROSPECT looking back; a

se away, side SECEDE withdraw

semi half, partly SEMIANNUAL every six months

syn, sym, syl, sys with, together SYNCHRONIZE time together

trans across TRANSPOSE reverse, move across

tri three TRIAD a group of three

ultra beyond, excessive ULTRAMODERN excessively modern

un not UNFEIGNED not pretended; real

under below UNDERGIRD strengthen