SENTENCE COMPLETION

HLPUSC0816

INTRODUCTION
Sentence Completion questions are nothing but the good old Fill in the Blanks type of questions that you have been
tackling since primary school!
These questions essentially test your ability to use vocabulary and identify logical consistency among the elements in
a given sentence.
You need to decipher the contextual meaning of the word from the given statement. And remember, knowing how
parts of a sentence affect one another can help you determine the correct answer.
Context clues also help us in identifying how a word is used in the context of a paragraph or longer passage.
Ex.
Indeed there had been a distant rumbling for some time, although I had paid no attention to it. Now I started listening
and I thought it sounded like the characteristic noise of jet airplanes constantly landing and taking off.
Therefore rumbling means ____________________________.
Clue: It sounds like a jet plane constantly taking off and landing
Answer : Rumbling means a deep thundering sound
Dictionary meaning : rumbling - a loud low dull continuous noise
4 Elements that can make Sentence Completion challenging!
1.
2.
3.

4.

Vocabulary level: There may be some words that you are not familiar with.
Grammatical complexities: Some sentences can be highly complex with a range of grammatical elements
subordinate clauses, relative clauses, prepositional phrases, gerunds and infinitives in convoluted ways.
Tone: Sentences reflect the writers attitude towards the subject matter. A neutral tone is easy to comprehend.
However, it may be harder to figure out writing that is ironic, condescending, playful or otherwise complex in
tone.
Style: Writing styles could be formal or informal, poetic or prosaic, academic or investigative, and so on. The
word choice, imagery, repetition, rhythm, sentence structure and length could all go into making a question
that much more challenging.

Question Types
Sentence Completion questions can be of the following types:
1.

Single-Blank Questions
There is a sentence with a single blank and you are expected to choose the best word or phrase to fill the blank
and complete the sentence meaningfully.
E.g.: According to the biography, Smith was a _________ employer, giving generous bonuses on one day and
ordering pay cuts the next.
(a) indifferent

(b) objective

(c) unpredictable

(d) ineffectual

(e) unobtrusive

Answer: The phrases following the word employer give an idea about Smiths character. While it is true that
someone who keeps changing decisions is a difficult employer, we need to narrow down on the precise word that
reflects his arbitrary behaviour. So lets look at each answer option:
In this case, the answer would be option (c).
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2.

Double-Blank Questions
In double blank questions there are two blanks instead of one! Answer options for such questions appear in pairs
as given in the example below. So, you will have to make sure that both the words in an answer option fit the
blanks correctly.
In a way, double-blank questions are easier than single blank questions because you can eliminate word pairs
based on the inaptness of just one word in the pair! At the minimum, if you identify the inaptness of four words,
you could have cracked the question.
E.g.: Although Ms. Harvey's disposition was generally _________, she could become enraged when sufficiently _________.
(a) viciousignored

(b) sereneprovoked

(d) meek complimented

(e) perverse betrayed

(c) energetic disappointed

Answer: The use of the word "although" at the beginning of the sentence indicates that there must be a contrast
between Ms. Harvey's usual disposition and her disposition when she becomes enraged. The second missing term
must describe how someone could become enraged. If Ms. Harvey were sufficiently "provoked," she might
conceivably become enraged, and this would contrast with a generally "serene," or calm disposition.
In this case, the answer would be option (b).
3.

Cloze Tests/ Text Completion Questions

Text Completion questions come in the form of a passage or set of sentences, omitting crucial words from short
passages and asking the test taker to use the remaining information in the passage as a basis for selecting words
or short phrases to fill the blanks. These are a set of sentences or passage with multiple blanks where you will
have to identify the correct words to fill the blanks. Usually, each blank has a distinct set of answer options. Some
tests give scores for every blank correctly filled, while others give scores only when all the blanks are correctly
filled.

Approach Methodology

SMART Tip
THE BLANK STRATEGY

Bring your own word to the blank.

Locate a context clue.
Assign a positive or negative value to the blank.
Never arrive at an answer without eliminating/verifying other options.
Keep level-headed.
Say the sentence in your head to ensure it makes sense.

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Strategy Step #1: Bring your word to the blank.

First, read through the sentence and predict a word that you think would suit the blank. Do this before looking at the
answer options so that you are not confused or misled by them. After reading the sentence and coming up with your
prediction word, check out the answer options to find the closest match.
Strategy Step #2: Locate a context clue.
With harder sentence completion questions, it may not always be possible to predict the answer based on what
sounds right. In these cases, the logical next step would be to look for a context clue. Almost all sentences will have
one or more context clues. So underline important words and phrases within the sentence because these are all
indicators for what the blank requires.
See below for some examples; the clues are in bold.
Example: The ________ of the novel was based on real-life events that occurred during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Clue: real life events
Answer: plot
Example: Usually Katrina was _______ but ________: happy to make new acquaintances but wary of who she trusted.
Clue: happy to make new acquaintances and wary
Answer: friendly . . cautious
Example: John found himself ________ on the matter, caught as he was between two hard decisions.
Clue: caught as he was between two hard decisions
Answer: equivocating
Clues typically fall under three categories
a.
b.
c.

Synonyms: meaning the same thing as the omitted word; more frequent in double blank questions
Antonyms: meaning the opposite of the omitted word; frequently used with contradiction words like but,
however or although
Definitions: give a definition of the omitted word; these occur in harder questions and usually follow a comma or colon

Whenever a comma or colon comes after a blank, in all probability what comes after it will be the definition or
description of the omitted word.
Mini Drill on Context Clues
Directions for Q1 to Q3: What follows is a series of answered Sentence Completion questions, with clues and
answers given below. Indicate the type of Clue (Synonym, Antonym, or Definition). With double-blank questions
write the type of clues in order of the blanks.
1.

The ________ candidate met many challenges during her arduous campaign, but she did not ________ and ultimately
attained the office she had so passionately sought.
(a) reluctant .. concede

(b) dogged .. falter

(c) tireless .. defame

Clue(s): arduous, but... attained

Answer(s): dogged .. falter

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2.

Crestfallen by having done poorly in the examination, Susan began to question her abilities. Her self-confidence
was ..........
(a) appeased

(b) destroyed

(c) elevated

Clue(s): crestfallen
Answer(s): destroyed
3.

Common garlic has ________ properties ; during the First World war medics saved thousands of lives by wrapping
wounds with garlic soaked bandages.
(a) curative

(b) flavouring

(c) inferior

Clue(s): ;
Answer(s): curative
Because of the way the sentence is constructed, you can tell that the missing word must be related to saving
lives
* An example of how you might approach the answer choices:
curative? Seems to start with the word cure, which is related to saving lives, so maybe! Lets take a look at
the others:
flavoring? True, but not relevant to the question.
inferior? I know the phrase inferior quality and thats never a positive thing, whereas saving lives is good,
so probably not.

Beware Red Herrings!

TRAP

A red herring is something that seems like a clue but is actually there to confuse you. It is an expression for something
that appears important but in reality is a distraction. (The expression arose when criminals started rubbing herring
a type of fish on trails to distract the hunting dogs chasing after them.)
Such traps may occasionally be found in sentence completion questions.
[

E.g.: By rigorously observing social behaviour, anthropologists ______ strict, though

implicit, codes of conduct.
Here, the word strict is less important to the answer than the word implicit. Misleading
answer options could include undermine or challenging which although deal with the
strict element, introduce way too much new information.
The real meaning of the sentence is based on the idea that, because the behaviour is implicit
(hidden or unspoken), anthropologists have to be rigorous in their observations to detect or
decipher it. Therefore, a good answer for the blank would be reveal or make explicit.

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SMART Tip
Direction Indicators
Direction cues are conjunctions or punctuations that indicate the direction a sentence is taking.
Continuation Indicator: A question-stump CONTINUES in the direction of its CLUES if the omitted word is similar
in meaning to the words in the question.
E.g.: After the laborious trek, Haridas Kumar Pal was ______: all he wanted was a good nights rest.
The continuation indicator here is the colon. It is followed by a definition of the omitted word.
Answer: exhausted
Continuation Indicators and, so, because, therefore, since, comma, colon
Amplification Indicators not just...but (This word pair indicates that you are looking for two words similar in
meaning, where the second is more intense than the first.)
Reverse Indicator: A question stump REVERSES itself if it goes for a word that is opposite in meaning to the
CLUES.
E.g.: Though there was tremendous chaos in the hallway, there was a perfect sense of _____ in the exam hall.
The reverse indicator here is though. So the omitted word must be an opposite of the clue word chaos.
Answer: order
Reverse Indicators while, but, despite, though, although, seemingly, apparently, not, even, contrast, differing, yet
Reverse indicators can suggest a reverse from a Clue (in a single-blank question), or a reverse between blanks (in a
double-blank question or cloze test) in the relationship between the omitted words.
Watch out for the DOUBLE NEGATIVE effect. Two reverse indicators function together as a
continuation indicator.
TRAP

E.g.: The wedding party, while ______, could not ______ for the lack of warmth: nobody was happy.
Reverse indicators while and not cancel each other out and you are left with a simple continuation.
Answers: lavish, compensate
Strategy Step #3: Assign a positive or negative value to the blank.
What if you are not able to bring a word to the blank and unable to locate a context clue? Well, the logical next step
would be to identify the feel of the word. Do you think the omitted word is positive or negative in implication?
Accordingly, mark a (+) or (-) in the blank.
Even if you are not able to identify the exact context clues, by reading the overall sentence you will get a gut feeling
about the words connotation.
Similarly, mark (+) or (-) for each answer option. If you are unsure about the feel of a word, do not mark anything.

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Mini Drill on Word Values

Directions for Q1 to Q5: Read each sentence carefully, keeping your ears and eyes peeled for context clues. Then
circle Positive word, Negative word, or Unknown value to indicate your word value for the blank.
1.

Regretfully, team captain Marc started to _________ the young players as soon as basketball practice ended.
Positive word
Negative word
Unknown value
Additional strategy, using Active Pencil: With your pencil, jot a positive (+) or negative () sign
next to each answer choice as shown below. If the word value is unknown, leave the word as is.
(A) laugh +

(B) study +

(C) race

(D) belittle

(E) praise +

Ans: This sentence lacks a context clue that keys us into the precise meaning of the blank. However, you can
assign a negative () value to the blank, since the sentence begins with a negative term, regretfully.
2.

To the authors delight, the controversial book received praise and ________ from most major critics.
Positive word
Negative word
Unknown value
Ans: The blank is linked to praise with the conjunction and; this tells us that the needed word is on a par with or
similar to praise. Therefore, you would assign a + to the blank.

3.

Regardless of his ________ nature, Pedro decided not to extend a helping hand to his avaricious neighbors this time.
Positive word
Negative word
Unknown value
Ans: A subtle but key context clue is the word not. Downsize this sentence to something like: Regardless of his
helpful nature, Pedro chose NOT to help . . . . Considering this simplified form of the sentence, you see that the
blank requires a positive word, such as obliging or accommodating.

Did you notice?

You can usually figure out whether a blank is + or by paying attention to the nuances and undertones in the sentence. For
instance, did you notice To the authors delight? This phrase certainly puts the sentence into the positive realm.

Strategy Step #4: Never Dos.

Merely glancing at the question and jumping straight to answer options could mislead you because sentence
completion questions are deliberately wrought with false positives and almost correct options meant to mislead you!
Strategy Step #5: Keep level-headed.
Now thats a step thats pretty self-explanatory. Play it cool, take it one step at a time and bingo!

SMART Tip
As obvious as it may seem, do not neglect the power of elimination!
Once you go through the answer options, immediately cross off those that you are sure will not fit. Discarding weak
or unlikely responses will reduce the clutter and minimise distraction. And remember, with every answer choice
that you eliminate, you are getting one step closer to the correct answer.
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Exercise 1
Directions for Q1 to Q8: Identify and write and clues in order of the blanks and fill up the blank(s) with the most
suitable words.
1. Although the weather report had suggested rain, the day was sunny and ________
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
2. Everyone needs to earn a living somehow, but even the most ________ individuals, abide by certain ________
professional standards.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
3. The ________ of the device ________ the scientists : they could not understand how an ancient civilization could
produce something so intricate.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
4. John has been described as ________, subject to sudden changes of mood and feeling.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
5. The ________ of even a single celled organism is surprisingly sophisticated, containing internal structures carefully
honed over millions of years of evolution.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
6. Today Wegener's theory is ________; however, he died an outsider treated with ________ by the scientific
establishment.
(a) unrivalled reverence

(b) unchallenged disdain

(c) dismissed contempt

Clue(s):
Answer(s):
7. The application of statistical analytics to sports science has resulted in some ________ in professional athletics; the
cross disciplinary approach has been particularly useful in developing new metrics for efficiency and
effectiveness.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):

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8. Despite the ________ evidence against him, the accused maintained an expression of ________ throughout the trial,
apparently unfazed by strength of the prosecutors case.
Clue(s):
Answer(s):
Directions for Q9 and Q10: Read each sentence carefully, keeping your ears and eyes peeled for context clues. Then
circle Positive word, Negative word, or Unknown value to indicate your word value for the blank.
9. Though gossip has painted an unpleasant and downright _________ picture of the new member of the community,
I have learned first hand that [Link] is actually forthright and well mannered,
Positive word

Negative word

Unknown value

10. Contrary to his pleasant and convivial nature, Jack decided not to attend several holiday parties; he was
becoming uncharacteristically ________ and ________.
Positive word

Negative word

Unknown value

Directions for Q11 to Q30: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable word from the list of options given.
11. Abreast all of this attention the author is still keeping busy wielding her pen to produce narratives that voice
the thoughts, hopes and perspectives of those often unheard of in popular ________ literary works.
(a) offbeat
(b) prudent
(c) panache
(d) mainstream
12. During the Victorian Age, as seen in Oscar Wildes The importance of being Earnest, the English aristocracy
was dominant, ________ and rich - far removed from the British middle class and poor.
(a) servile
(b) meek
(c) snobbish
(d) fastidious
13. The tone of the play is so light-hearted that the audience never doubt that things will end happily, and it is
therefore free to enjoy the comedy without being caught up in the tension of a/an ________ outcome.
(a) mundane
(b) nascent
(c) uncertain
(d) ambient
14. Crocodiles compete ________ with each other for territory, with ________ males in particular occupying the most
eligible stretches of freshwater creeks and streams.
(a) grudgingly, mediocre
(b) fiercely, dominant
(c) majorly, subservient
(d) belligerently, docile
15. A key asset is the countrys first-rate virology laboratory affiliated with the University Teaching Hospital. The
laboratory was staffed and equipped to quickly and reliably diagnose a case of Ebola virus disease, which
ensured that ________ measures could begin with the shortest possible delay.
(a) catastrophic
(b) callisthenic
(c) containment
(d) dissemination
16. When EVD is suspected in a person, his or her travel and work history, along with an exposure to wildlife, are
important factors to consider with respect to further ________ efforts.
(a) prosthetic
(b) diagnostic
(c) humane
(d) histrionic
17. Tranquebar has the sea and nothing else. There is an old fort by the sea which offers a ________ view of the angry,
frothing waters.
(a) vilifying
(b) belligerent
(c) balsamic
(d) breath-taking
18. In an age of change, Wilde's plays ________ people to think about the artificial barriers that defined society and
enabled a privileged life for the rich at the expense of the working class.
(a) entrusted
(b) enthused
(c) encouraged
(d) entrenched

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19. According to WHO, the success of Nigeria Africas most populous nation was ________ to ample funding,
quick action and assistance from the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the non-profit Doctors
Without Borders.
(a) asynchronous
(b) attributable
(c) synchronous
(d) detrimental
20. Although it is not entirely clear how Ebola initially spreads from animals to humans, the spread is _____ to
involve direct contact with an infected wild animal or fruit bat.
(a) enamoured
(b) paramount
(c) believed
(d) truant
21. Though most of the conflict in the play ________ from the troubles of romance, and though the play involves a
number of romantic ________, it is not truly a love story; it distances the audience from the emotions of the
characters in order to ________ fun at the torments and afflictions that those in love ________.
(a) stems, elements, poke, suffer
(b) dissolves, chords, hit, enjoy
(c) facilitates, scenes, make, cherish
(d) starts, gaffes, make, celebrate
22. Not many people were around at that time and I loved the silence of the place, only ________ by the tinkling of
cutlery that came from the kitchen.
(a) punctured
(b) elevated
(c) alleviated
(d) exacerbated
23. This is the kind of journalism that is not about informing the reader but about making sure that the readers
real and imagined petty ________ remain undisturbed.
(a) amenities
(b) joys
(c) prejudices
(d) retributions
24. My eyes cloud over with memories as I remember how my father took his first, hesitant baby footsteps into the
world of computers. The mouse scared him. My brothers temper scared him even more. He would ________ make
notes and follow the step by step instructions written down by his antsy children. Ah, those were the days of
Reality TV outside the television box.
(a) copiously
(b) dementedly
(c) endemically
(d) valiantly
25. Advances in aerospace, medical, and military technologies are destined to ________ wildlife research techniques
to ever-greater levels of ________.
(a) send, chicanery
(b) delve, artistry
(c) plunge, empowerment
(d) propel, sophistication
26. American wildlife biologists began to ________ Cold War-era surveillance technologies into their practices during
the second half of the twentieth century. VHF radio tracking began in the late 1950s, where an animal would be
captured, ________, and then fitted with a collar or tag that contained a radio transmitter.
(a) incorporate, sedated
(b) utilize, released
(c) dismantle, tracked
(d) assemble, catered
27. As a complete beginner one can expect to gain a good 10-12 kilos of muscle, albeit along with a very noticeable
amount of fat, with a year of consistent, ________, linear progression based training.
(a) digressive
(b) diligent
(c) esoteric
(d) ethereal
28. Thanks to a lifetime of ________ habits and asthma, my entry into running was ________ by suffering. My first run
lasted an amazing 100m at the end of which I found myself sitting on the pavement panicking and hurriedly
taking puffs from my inhaler.
(a) sedentary, dominated
(b) acerbic, accelerated
(c) opulent, decelerated
(d) querulous, endured
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29. I am not going to remember my first run as the one that made me feel ________. Im going to love every remaining
second of this trail. It doesnt matter if I have to walk it or even if I have to call for help, but I was going to
________ every remaining moment.
(a) mighty, cherish
(b) miserable, savour
(c) significant, endure
(d) insignificant, suffer
30. Why is there an ________ desire to lose as much weight in as little time as possible? It is this ________ that makes
you vulnerable vulnerable to food manufacturers who ________ you into believing their food will let you have
the cake and eat it too, vulnerable to pseudo-fitness gurus and gyms/fitness centers which promise you results
that are too good to be true and vulnerable to a side of yourself that is always ________ you with shortcuts.
(a) insatiable, desperation, scam, tempting
(b) insane, jubilance, tweak, bludgeon
(c) urbane, stupidity, attract, market
(d) enervated, guides, enthral, gawk
Directions for Q31 to Q50: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable word from the list of options given.
31. Egg, yolk contains choline which is extremely ________ for the bodys proper functioning, lutein which saves
eyesight, contains essential fatty acids and healthy dose of cholesterol which, again, is a substance that is
absolutely required for the body to function smoothly.
(a) critical
(b) unimportant
(c) sensible
(d) durable
32. The emphasis here is on staying away from all foods that could ________ hurt you and eating only foods that are
________.
(a) impressively, effective
(b) potentially, benign
(c) occasionally, addictive
(d) sedentarily, cautious
33. Health is not a short-term goal. Health is the ________ result of many years of eating good food among other
things like leading an active and stress-free lifestyle.
(a) consuming
(b) consummate
(c) cumulative
(d) catered
34. Countless falls triggering false alarms, innumerable bruises calling for Dettol and Soframycin and scars that
serve as battle wounds till today were a part of my learn-to-run process. But then, a ________ skill was learnt.
(a) pent
(b) priceless
(c) plentiful
(d) passable
35. Soy processing isnt a very ________ picture with acid washing and neutralization solutions, large and leaching
aluminium tanks, and high temperature heating. And this doesnt take into ________ the artificial flavours,
including MSG, that are ________ added to improve flavour.
(a) comforting, account, oftentimes
(b) pretty, interaction, rarely
(c) disconcerting, attrition, incidentally
(d) pleasing, consideration, never
36. Its vital to go organic with food today. A lot of foods are genetically modified; they have high pesticide ________ levels.
(a) bolster
(b) contamination
(c) accommodation
(d) derision
37. Irrespective of how ________ a product is, it is your duty as a parent (and as a person who has common sense) to
look into the list of ingredients and make smart choices.
(a) fallible
(b) gullible
(c) convincing
(d) insensible
38. While most mushrooms sold to the public today are edible, one has got to be very cautious about mushroom
that is found naturally. It can be ________!
(a) palatable
(b) delicious
(c) dexterous
(d) poisonous

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39. It is ________ that a road journey of less than six hours from hot Chennai takes one to a very cool Bangalore.
(a) surprising
(b) credible
(c) laudable
(d) pliable
40. I loved the movie to bits; it is ________ to watch an Indian woman who learns the importance of having fun and
does not end up dead because she dared to do so.
(a) shocking
(b) unreal
(c) liberating
(d) idyllic
41. There really is no need for a woman to stop being ambitious because she assumes someday, when she has a
family, she wont be able to ________ her ambition along with them.
(a) alleviate
(b) accommodate
(c) deviate
(d) digress
42. The book also provides a great reading list for those who want to study the research cited in her book more ________.
(a) extensively
(b) independently
(c) fiscally
(d) geographically
43. To my dad, getting the first rank was an ________. So much so that my brother and I followed this policy when we
were kids there are two entrances to our house: one through my dads office room where he ________ his
clients and one through the drawing room of the house. If we won the first prize, wed make a ________ entry
through the office room so my dad could tell all his junior lawyers, clerk, typist, sundry clients what geniuses
we were. If we didnt win, wed ________ slip in through the other entrance.
(a) admonition, treats, slinky, just
(b) obsession, receives, grand, quietly
(c) addiction, shuns, frantic, noisily
(d) attraction, meets, calm, maniacally
44. I remember one Mothers Day when Id written a poem and made a card for my mother. She looked at it and
said, I dont want all these meaningless ________. Why dont you clean your toilet?
(a) gestures
(b) tricks
(c) pointers
(d) ruses
45. Chua, in her book, says Chinese parents push their children so much because they believe their children can
excel and all they are doing is to help them ________ their potential. Western parents, on the other hand, are
________ with letting the child choose how much potential it wanted to realize.
(a) reclaim, stupid
(b) respond, selfish
(c) realise, content
(d) ruining, happy
46. Sibling rivalry is an issue Chua talks about in the book. For Western parents, comparing their children is
unthinkable. But Chinese parents do it to ________ the underachiever to be more like the successful kid.
(a) gauge
(b) dissuade
(c) imitate
(d) encourage
47. Throughout my childhood, my brother was the ________ I was supposed to ________. He was one of those annoying
kids who dont seem to study at all but are just brilliant naturally. I used to wonder if my mum ate a specially
blessed mango when she was pregnant with him.
(a) paragon, emulate
(b) stalwart, dislike
(c) example, be
(d) wastrel, simulate
48. Children believe you are responsible for their boredom. If you dont do something to ________ it immediately,
they are going to protest.
(a) forfeit
(b) ensue
(c) dispel
(d) progress
49. The men had a ________ dislike for the captain appointed recently.
(a) sleek
(b) particular
(c) omnipresent

(d) ominous

50. Languages change over time. Healthy, living languages change a lot over time. They ________ and flow and morph.
(a) elk
(b) ebb
(c) eke
(d) era

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SENTENCE COMPLETION
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Directions for Q51 to Q70: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable word from the list of options given.
51. Studies look at multiple (health) markers but researchers very often, in an effort to write attractive and ________
conclusions, decouple the results to a point of oversimplification that it becomes absolutely useless.
(a) tangible
(b) feasible
(c) deciduous
(d) delectable
52. My husband has shoddy housekeeping skills, in contrast to my ________ habits.
(a) feisty
(b) fastidious
(c) feral
(d) fiendish
53. ________ suicide, in the eyes of law and order, is as ________ as murder.
(a) Anointing, acrimonious
(b) Abetting, culpable
(c) Alienating, incriminating
(d) Arbitrating, sinful
54. The book was a/an ________ and I hated reading every page of it. Had it not been for the book club discussion
that I had to ________, I would have returned this book to the library after 2 pages.
(a) splendour, serve
(b) pleasure, survive
(c) abomination, convene
(d) ploy, endure
55. While the dictator was seen as an ________ outside his country, his compatriots saw him as a ________.
(a) outcast, despot
(b) ogre, savior
(c) idiot, simpleton
(d) ally, friend
56. I have found her to be nice but often, I do hear from others that she can be ________ with her snobbish remarks.
(a) floozy
(b) treble
(c) acerbic
(d) matronly
57. The cyclone ________ most parts of the already poverty struck country and ________ the over populated slums in
the cities.
(a) captivated, truncated
(b) ravaged, decimated
(c) defied, edified
(d) enlightened, parted
58. The school has ________ rules and regulations. Failing to ________ to the rules can result in termination.
(a) mandatory, rescind
(b) stringent, adhere
(c) lax, concur
(d) sloppy, bend
59. Years of dance practice during his formative years has resulted in his ________ physique today.
(a) hefty
(b) lithe
(c) sloppy
(d) systemic
60. The professors speech was well received by the scientific ________ but was not suitable for the pedestrian
because of its ________ content.
(a) populace, layman
(b) fraternity, esoteric
(c) seniority, lame
(d) drift, feline
61. I dont care much for ________ and the movie was too full of it. I had to undo all the gloom it caused by watching
slapstick comedy for a whole week.
(a) noir
(b) jocundity
(c) melancholy
(d) artistry
62. The author is a ________: she almost never leaves the house and when she travels, she travels ________.
(a) reticent, further
(b) recluse, incognito
(c) yonder, alone
(d) kleptomaniac, topographically
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SENTENCE COMPLETION
HLPUSC0816

63. She fared badly in her driving test because of her ________.
(a) myopia
(b) avant-garde
(c) a la carte
(d) schadenfreude
64. I like this apartment because of its ________ to the city centre and its ________ water supply.
(a) near-sightedness, meagre
(b) proximity, copious
(c) suburbs, paucity of
(d) distance, paltry
65. While the teacher said the student was wrong, the student retaliated saying the question was ______.
(a) importune
(b) imbecile
(c) ambiguous
(d) dexterous
66. The Chola dynasty ________ the Nayak dynasty by a few hundred years.
(a) accelerated
(b) ameliorated
(c) antedated
(d) avenged
67. This chair is not designed _______ and is hence very inconvenient to use.
(a) ergonomically
(b) intrinsically
(c) extrinsically
(d) idiosyncratically
68. Do not let her appearance fool you. She might look ________ but she will resort to ________ plans to achieve what
she wants.
(a) cunning, marauding
(b) bemoaning, pleading
(c) nave, machiavellian
(d) bucolic, rustic
69. Despite being situated in a good locale, the house was ________ and hence I did not want to buy that house.
(a) dilapidated
(b) serene
(c) tranquil
(d) brawny
70. Preparing this delicacy is a ________ task. It involves strenuous processes and a long cooking time.
(a) atlantic
(c) herculean

(b) chronic
(d) titanic

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