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Phrase usage
Directions (1-5): In each of the following questions, one phrase has been given and it has been followed by four sentences. You have to find out in which of these sentences phrase has been used properly according to its meaning and mark your answer from the options denoted by A,B ,C ,D. Mark E As your answer if you find that phrase has been applied properly in all the sentences.
1) Wild goose chase
I) His job hunt will end in a wild goose chase
II) My brother had taken the keys with him while I was on a wild goose chase searching for it all over the house
III) It is feared that the stolen necklace has been smuggled out of the country by now and the extensive police search for it would prove to be a wild goose chase
IV) He just set off on a wild goose chase
2) Last straw
I) The last straw in their troubled relationship was when he started physically abusing her and she decided to walk out
II) Organizing the tournament outside India is the last straw for the cricket board
III) The dastardly attack on the Uri army base proved to be the last straw for the Indian government which decided it was now time for retaliation
IV) I had put up with a lot of nonsense on this job but making me work on Sundays was the proverbial last straw leading me to quit
3) Miss the boat
I) He missed the boat by waiting till too late to buy the tickets for the show
II) Investors who have been holding off buying in the hope of prices falling further may well have missed the boat
III) John didn’t turn up for the selection trials and missed the boat as far as the squad for the tournament was concerned
IV) In this competitive scenario, if you don’t keep yourself abreast of latest developments, you are going to miss the boat
4) Up in the air
I) After performing well in the examination, I felt really up in the air
II) She said their wedding plans were still up in the air as her fiancé was yet to find a suitable job
III) After a long career, Steve was finally happy, content and up in the air in his retirement
IV) With the covid-19 pandemic still raging, the organization of the T20 world cup seems quite up in the air for now
5) Gain ground
I) The Democrats are steadily gaining ground in the traditionally Republican southern belt
II) The forests gained ground and soon covered many of the abandoned villages
III) His theories quickly gained ground in the academic circle
IV) Air BNB has been gradually gaining ground in many cities all over the world
Fill in the blanks
Directions (6-10): A sentence with one blank is given, indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the word that best fits the blank.
6) The Colonel, normally a fast thinking man was left perfectly _________ by the situation and seemed at a loss for what to say.
7) How many foreign visitors, fleeced by mock auctioneers, have been surprised that such obvious _________ could be conducted in such brazen and open manner?
8) Even though everyone knows the ________ story of the shipwreck and the lost treasure is not true, still they tell it over and over again.
9) Despite his best efforts and use of every possible ___________ that he could think of, the salesman failed to sell a single product on that day.
10) Jim’s totally __________ attitude and antagonized co-workers everywhere and that’s why he failed to hold up a job for too long.
Answers :
Directions (1-5):
1) Answer: B
The phrase “wild goose chase” means to do something that is completely futile or pointless. From that angle, the use of the phrase is only appropriate in statements II and III. There is not enough information given in statement I as to why his job hunt will be futile. Similarly, statement IV doesn’t provide any background justifying use of the phrase.
Therefore option B is the correct answer to this question.
2) Answer: D
The phrase “last straw” means the last or final in a succession of irritations, incidents, problems etc. that leads to loss of patience and a definitive action. Going by this meaning, the use of phrase is perfect in statements I, III & IV. However, the use is incorrect in statement II where it is being used like “last hope.”
Therefore option D is the correct answer to this question.
3) Answer: E
The phrase “miss the boat” means missing out on an opportunity by being too slow to react or waiting too long before acting. The use of the expression is correct in all the four given sentences.
Therefore option E is the correct answer to this question.
4) Answer: D
The phrase “up in the air” means a situation or plans still to be settled / remaining unresolved. The phrase has been correctly used in statements II and IV. However, in the other two statements, the use of the phrase is incorrect.
Therefore option D is the correct answer to this question.
5) Answer: D
The phrase “gain ground” means to become more popular or more accepted. The use is correct in statements I, III and IV. However, in statement II, the phrase has been used literally which is incorrect.
Therefore option D is the correct answer to this question.
Directions (6-10):
6) Answer: B
Let us look at the given statement and understand the situation described. It is being said that a man, normally fast thinking was left tongue-tied and unsure. It implies we need a word which means a state of confusion.
‘Damaged’ means wounded or hurt. ‘Rotund’ means large and plump (person). ‘Conceited’ means being excessively proud of one one. None of these words fit the required meaning.
‘Nonplussed’ means being “so surprised and confused that one is unsure how to react.” It fits the given blank perfectly.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer to this question.
7) Answer: B
The meaning that can be gathered from the sentence implies that a fraudulent or immoral activity was committed on foreign visitors. The word in the blank should help propagate that theme.
‘Jettison’ is the act of throwing or dropping off something (usually from a ship or aircraft). ‘Apathy’ means lack of interest or concern. ‘Careened’ is the past form of the verb ‘careen’ meaning the turning over an object (usually an automobile or a boat/ship). None of them make any logical sense in the given blank.
‘Swindling’ means using deception to deprive (someone) of money or possessions. It fits perfectly with the theme of the sentence.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer to this question.
8) Answer: A
The statement clearly says that the story being referred to is not true – therefore the adjective in the given blank must convey a similar meaning. The only word among the given options that fits the requirement is ‘apocryphal’ which means ‘(something) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true. ’
Therefore, option A is the correct answer to this question.
9) Answer: C
The salesman was trying to sell his wares and the word that will go into the blank should be something that implies an act of persuasion or convincing.‘Bolster’ means to support or strengthen (something), usually a structure; ‘Calumny’ is false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; ‘Compunction’ is the feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the act of doing something bad. None of these words convey the desired meaning.
‘Blandishment’ is a flattering or pleasing statement or action used as means of gently persuading someone to do something – it fits the blank perfectly.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer to this question.
10) Answer: C
The word for the blank has to convey a negative feel as that is what the statement is implying. There are only two words among the given options which have a negative connotation – despotic and recalcitrant.
‘Despotic’ means a tyrannical attitude – generally used to describe rulers of older times or governments. It doesn’t fit in well in this case. ‘Recalcitrant’ is ‘having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline’ – a perfect fit for the given blank.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer to this question.
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This post was last modified on February 10, 2021 6:28 pm