Verbal AMCAT or SHL - Set1
Verbal Ability Sample Questions:
Directions for Questions 1 - 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the question.
Until a hundred years ago as humans we had a simple, uncomplicated biological connect. It was a straightforward equation: we drew roughly 3,000 calories each of energy out of the Earth for our food and life's sustenance. Today that number per capita has grown to 1,00,000 calories. We still need only 3,000 calories each to nourish life itself. All the rest of this energy is what we extract from the Earth for everything else besides keeping ourselves alive. In some countries, like the US; this per capita number runs at over 2,00,000 calories! Some of us are concerned about this. We fret over what we could and should really be doing to soften this abuse of resources.
Little things fox us in the welter of things that we get to read. What is sustainable development? How can it be started a tour homes? Beyond the ceremonial planting of green arid getting people to run marathons of various lengths in support of the environment, is there- more that we can add to the abstract value of "sustainability"? What are the little things we can do in our day-to-day lives, to reduce demand for things that people make and market? Of course, we know that it helps to avoid a plastic bag when you can use a newspaper bag, or a brown bag, or even a jute bag which you can use for many more years unlike a plastic bag which you throw away in less than a week or after a few uses. However, there's actually quite a bit more that you and I can do without compromise on comfort, with very little as cost incurred, with financial savings that you can gain on energy and water use, and with solutions that are very feasible and within your reach. It is possible to understand our ecological footprint and its disastrous consequences, not merely in terms of our own behaviour as consumers, but really in terms of the impact on the environment we make.
1) Why does the author ask his audience to use a jute bag?
A) Jute bags look more trendy and stylish.
B) It is the need of the hour, to save energy, to save our ecosystem.
C) Using jute bags helps in consuming only 3,000 calories from the Earth.
D) They are more easily available.
Answer: B
The passage states that we need to do more than just run marathons to increase support from people. We need to find out little things in our day-to-day lives where we can reduce energy consumption and using a jute bag will help reduce use of plastic. The passage does not state how many calories can be saved if one uses a jute bag.
2) What is the primary concern of the passage?
A) There is a need to save energy, especially for our future.
B) All of us should not only plant trees but also run the marathon.
C) Use of plastic bags should be completely banned.
D) We need to respect the Earth and consume less of its calories.
Answer: D
Explanation
The passage states that we are abusing Earth's resources and talks about ways in which we can reduce the demand for energy. The primary focus is on saving energy now (at present). Hence we rule out option A.
3) A suitable title for the passage could be:
A) Let's Shift to Jute!
B) How to Consume Few Calories?
C) Save Energy, Save the Earth!
D) The Earth Heading for a Disaster.
Answer: C
Explanation
The focus is on saving energy and stopping the abuse of Earth's resources.
4) Which one of the following statements cannot be inferred from the passage?
A) There are many little things we can do to save our Earth.
B) Only running marathons of various lengths do not help.
C) We do not depend on the Earth for our food and life sustenance.
D) A lot many years before, our association with Nature was quite simple.
Answer: C
Explanation
Refer to We drew roughly 3,000 calories each of energy out of the Earth for our food and life's sustenance. Option C contradicts this sentence. All the others are inferred from the passage.
5) Thieves steal Hondas and Toyotas from the 1990s more than other models because they can chop them up and sell them for parts that are worth more than the car.
A) more than other models because they can chop them up and sell them for parts that are worth more than the car
B) more than they steal other models because they can chop them up and sell them for parts that are worth more than the car
C) more than they do other models because they can dismantle the cars and sell the parts that are worth more than the car
D) more than other models because they can chop the cars up and sell them for parts that are worth more than the car
Answer: C
Explanation:
A, D and E are incorrect comparison as it sounds like other models steal more than the thieves. They can be eliminated for any and all of the reasons discussed. The comparison is incomplete, the pronoun is ambiguous, and the verb “chop” is inappropriate.
B and C remain. B is incorrect as they dont sell "them" (cars) , they have dismantled the car so they are selling the parts.
C is the correct option
6) If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven't they been placed on the shelf?
A) have been cataloged
B) would have been cataloged
C) was cataloged
D) were cataloged
Answer: D
Explanation:
This question contains the subjunctive tense, which is used to talk about hypothetical events like this one. "If the books...." suggests that the action has not actually happened. In this case, we use "were" regardless of the subject. The answer might be E. If the 'outcome' action (placing on the shelf) were in the past, it would be correct to use "had been cataloged". It is in the present however, so D is the answer
7) Find out which part of the sentence contains an error.
A) Psychologists point out that
B) there are human processes
C) which does not involve
D) the use of words
Answer: C
Explanation:
Human Processes is in the plural form, so, the correct form is do not. So, C is the answer
8) Choose the best antonym for 'Exodus'
A) Influx
B) Homecoming
C) Return
D) Restoration
Answer: A
9) Choose the best antonym for Amused
A) Jolted
B) Frightened
C) Saddened
D) Astonished
Answer: C
10) Choose the best antonym for perfidious
A) Treacherous
B) Loyal
C) Humane
D) Religious
Answer: B
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
Over the past few decades, many Asian nations transformed from poverty into global competitors. From 2003 to 2007, Asian economies expanded at an average annual rate of 8.1%, triple that of advanced economies. Over the same period, inflation in Asia averaged only about 3.5%. But Asia could be facing turbulent economic times. In May, the average inflation rate throughout the region reached nearly 7%, led by spikes in oil and food prices. In India, inflation jumped to an 11.6% annual rate in June, according to the latest government figures, the highest in 13 years.
Policymakers and central bankers are forced to raise interest rates and limit credit to get inflation under control. But these same measures suppress the investment and consumption that generates growth. The combination of slowing growth and soaring inflation makes economic policy-making tricky. Inflation stirs up the middle classes because it can quickly erase years of hard won personal gains. Inflation is cruel to the poor, because families have to spend a larger share of their meagre incomes on necessities. In the Philippines, farmers, unable to afford fuel for tractors, use water buffaloes top lough their fields.
But to avoid unrest, leaders cannot blindly adopt rigid anti-inflation measures. Voters wont hesitate to remove from office any politician who doesnt deliver the goods. So they cannot overreact to the inflation threat and scale down economic growth in the process. Developing nations need to grow quickly to create jobs and increase incomes for their large populations. With prices soaring, doing nothing is not an option. Most central banks in Asia have started raising interest rates. The Reserve Bank of India increased its benchmark rate twice last month to a six year high of 8.5%.
The challenge is especially difficult because currently, inflation is not of domestic origin. Prices are being driven higher by a global surge in oil and food prices, which individual governments can do little to control. Of course, inflation is not just a problem in Asia. World Bank President Robert Zoel lick called rising food and oil prices a man-made catastrophe that could quickly reverse the gains made in overcoming poverty over the past seven years. For now, though, there is more talk than action on the international front, so Asian governments are on their own. Even though inflation throughout the region is likely to continue to rise in coming months, no one is expecting an economic calamity. According to the Asian Development Bank Asian countries have large hard currency reserves and relatively healthy banks, and so are far better prepared to absorb external shocks than they were during the regions last recession ten years ago. Asian policymakers have learned their lessons and are more alert.
11) Which of the following can be said about Asian economies during the period from 2003- 2007?
1) Though inflation was rising at the time politicians did not pay much attention.
2) Many of the poor countries were able to compete internationally.
3) The growth rate of Asian countries was facilitated by growth in advanced countries.
A) All 1, 2, and 3
B) Only 1
C) Only 2
D) Both 1 and 2
E) None of these
Answer: E
12) Which of the following is not an anti-inflation measure being used by Asian countries?
1) Increase in benchmark interest rate by a central bank.
2) Checks on lending.
3) Subsidising fuel for farmers.
(A) Only 3
(B) Both 1 and 2
(C) Both 2 and 3
(D) Only 2
(E) None of these
Answer: C
13) What makes it difficult for Asian countries to control inflation?
A) Restrictions by organizations like the Asian Development Bank
B) Governments are indecisive and adopt counterproductive measures
C) The problem is global in nature, not restricted to their individual countries
D) Countries have never faced a financial crisis
E) Economic growth rate cannot occur in the absence of inflation
Answer: C
14) Why are experts not very concerned about the impact of inflation on Asian economies?
1) Asian countries have not maintained substantial hard currency reserves.
2) The condition of Asian banks is currently both stable and strong.
3) The Asian Development Bank will bail them out of any trouble.
A) Only 1
B) Both 1 and 3
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Only 2
E) None of these
Answer: D
15) What is the authors advice to politicians regarding the handling of inflation?
A) They should focus on preventing agitations among their citizens not implementing anti-inflation measures
B) They ought to implement anti-inflation measures even at the cost of losing office
C) They must focus on maintaining high economic growth rate as inflation will taper off on its own
D) Countries should handle the problem independently and not collectively
E) None of these
Answer: C
16) Rearrange the sentences into a meaningful paragraph.
A) The modus operand anonymous people deposited and swiftly transferred crores of rupees in the society's accounts in the names of slum dwellers reflects poor regulatory oversight.
B) Multi-state cooperative credit societies, which accept deposits only from, and give loans to, members, are regulated by the central registrar under the agriculture ministry.
C) A report in ET by Sugata Ghosh shows how income-tax sleuths have unearthed a case of large-scale money laundering through a multi-state urban cooperative credit society's account
D) The civil servant in charge, typically a joint secretary-level officer, is ill-equipped and does not have the wherewithal to handle supervision.
a) ABCD
b) DCBA
c) CADB
d) CABD
Answer: d
Explanation:
C gives a start to the paragraph ,A states the modus operandi people followed to money launder and shows how the civil servants are ill equipped to handle it .
17) Philosophical problems arise when people and questions that, though very_______, have certain characteristics in common.
A) relevant
B) elementary
C) abstract
D) diverse
Answer: D
Explanation:
The key to the correct choice is in the word though, which indicates that the missing word must convey a sense which is the opposite of the phrase 'having certain characteristics in common', Among the choices, diverse (meaning various of differing in qualities), is the most suitable answer. The sentence now means that though people ask diverse questions, there are some common characteristics among them.
18) Although the substance is normally quite______________, scientists found that when tempered with other elements it could be stored safely in metal containers.
A) voluminous
B) caustic
C) insoluble
D) vapid
Answer: B
Explanation:
The use of the conjunction although indicates an implied contrast within the sentence. The latter part of the sentence says that, when tempered with other elements, the substance referred to could be stored safely in metal containers. So, the first part should mean that the normal property of the substance is to corrode metal containers. Among the choices, it is only the word caustic that has this meaning, and is the answer.
19) Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word:
CORPULENT
A) Lean
B) Gaunt
C) Emaciated
D) Obese
Answer: D
20)REPERCUSSION(choose the word that expresses similar meaning)
A) Clever reply
B) Recollection
C) Remuneration
D) Reaction
Answer: D