Question1
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
I do not claim to tell a story as it ought to be told, but I know how a story should be told, for I have been in the company of expert storytellers for years. There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind—the humorous story. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter.
A humorous story can be long and meander without arriving at a particular point, but comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a punch. The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell, whereas the comic and witty stories do not need artistic skill.
The humorous story is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor. The comic storyteller, on the other hand, announces beforehand that the story is very funny and laughs at his own jokes.
Often, a rambling, humorous story may finish with a point, but the storyteller drops it casually, with the pretense that he does not know it is a nub. In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks, which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.
Which of the following best describes the difference between a humorous story and a comic story?
- A humorous story is brief and succinct, while a comic story is long
- A humorous story depends on the matter, whereas a comic story depends on the manner of telling.
- A humorous story relies on the manner of telling, while a comic story depends on the matter.
- A humorous story requires no artistic skill, while a comic story does
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
| Solution : |
| The passage states, “The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter,” which directly matches option 3. |
Question 2.
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
I do not claim to tell a story as it ought to be told, but I know how a story should be told, for I have been in the company of expert storytellers for years. There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind—the humorous story. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter.
A humorous story can be long and meander without arriving at a particular point, but comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a punch. The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell, whereas the comic and witty stories do not need artistic skill. The humorous story is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor. The comic storyteller, on the other hand, announces beforehand that the story is very funny and laughs at his own jokes.
Often, a rambling, humorous story may finish with a point, but the storyteller drops it casually, with the pretense that he does not know it is a nub. In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks, which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.The writer portrays humorous stories as being of a higher level than comic stories by emphasising that _______________.
- a humorous story is grave in spite of being humorous
- a humorous story is difficult and superior due to its American descent
- a humorous story is a great and delicate art that requires an artist to tell
- unlike the comic and witty stories, humorous stories do not depress the reader
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
| Solution: |
| The passage explicitly says “The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell,” positioning it above comic/witty stories, which do not need artistic skill. |
Question3
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
I do not claim to tell a story as it ought to be told, but I know how a story should be told, for I have been in the company of expert storytellers for years. There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind—the humorous story. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter.
A humorous story can be long and meander without arriving at a particular point, but comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a punch. The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell, whereas the comic and witty stories do not need artistic skill. The humorous story is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor. The comic storyteller, on the other hand, announces beforehand that the story is very funny and laughs at his own jokes.
Often, a rambling, humorous story may finish with a point, but the storyteller drops it casually, with the pretense that he does not know it is a nub. In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks, which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.
The expression “In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub” implies that the comic story teller_______.
- emphatically highlights the punchline of the story
- deliberately avoids mentioning the punchline of the story
- subtly hides the humour at the end of the story
- is skillfully casual in his treatment of the punchline
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: A
| Solution: |
| The passage says the comic storyteller “does not slur the nub, he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks,” which means the nub (or the punchline) is stressed openly and forcefully |
Question 4.
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
I do not claim to tell a story as it ought to be told, but I know how a story should be told, for I have been in the company of expert storytellers for years. There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind—the humorous story. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of telling; the comic and the witty story, upon the matter.
A humorous story can be long and meander without arriving at a particular point, but comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a punch. The humorous story is a high and delicate art that requires an artist to tell, whereas the comic and witty stories do not need artistic skill. The humorous story is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor. The comic storyteller, on the other hand, announces beforehand that the story is very funny and laughs at his own jokes.
Often, a rambling, humorous story may finish with a point, but the storyteller drops it casually, with the pretense that he does not know it is a nub. In contrast, the comic storyteller does not slur the nub; he shouts it at you and when he prints it he emphasizes the punchline with italics and exclamation marks, which is very depressing, and makes one want to renounce joking and lead a better life.
How is the humour in a humorous story typically conveyed?
- by announcing beforehand that the story is funny.
- by telling the story gravely and concealing the humour.
- by explicitly exaggerating the punchline.
- by shouting the punchline loudly through narrative markers.
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| The passage states the humorous story “is told gravely, with the teller attempting to conceal the humor,” contrasting it with comic storytelling that announces and emphasizes the punchline |
Question5
Read the passage given below and answer the four questions that follow:-
Microorganisms were discovered in tiny cracks within 2billion-year-old rock in South Africa, making it the oldest rock known to host life. This finding offers insights into Earth’s early life and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Deep within Earth’s crust, billions of resilient microbes survive in extreme isolation, far removed from sunlight, oxygen, and food sources, growing at a glacial pace over thousands or millions of years. Previously, the oldest microbial traces were found in 100-million-year-old seafloor sediments. However, Yohey Suzuki and his team at Tokyo University have pushed this record back by 2 billion years.
They extracted a 30-cm cylindrical rock core from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, a 2-billionyear-old volcanic region. Upon slicing the core, they found microbial cells in tiny fractures. DNA staining and imaging with advanced microscopes confirmed the microbes were indigenous, with intact cell walls, suggesting they were active.
The researchers hypothesise that the microorganisms were carried into the rock via water shortly after its formation. Clay deposits in the fractures may have provided nutrients. These microbes, primitive in evolutionary terms, offer clues about Earth’s earliest life forms and their evolution.
The study also has implications for Mars exploration.
Suzuki notes similarities between the Bushveld rocks and Martian rocks, suggesting the same techniques could identify life on Mars.”
This underscores the deep subsurface as a crucial environment for microbial life,” says Manuel Reinhardt from the University of Göttingen, while noting that microorganisms colonised the rocks after crack
What factor might have supported microbial survival in the rock fractures?
- The presence of volcanic ash
- Nutrients from clay deposits in the fractures
- High oxygen levels deep within the crust
- Light reflected through the cracks
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| The passage states the researchers hypothesize microbes were carried into the rock by water after formation and that “clay deposits in the fractures may have provided nutrients,” which would support survival. |
Question6
Read the passage given below and answer the four
questions that follow:
Microorganisms were discovered in tiny cracks within 2
billion-year-old rock in South Africa, making it the oldest
rock known to host life. This finding offers insights into
Earth’s early life and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Deep within Earth’s crust, billions of resilient microbes
survive in extreme isolation, far removed from sunlight,
oxygen, and food sources, growing at a glacial pace over
thousands or millions of years. Previously, the oldest
microbial traces were found in 100-million-year-old
seafloor sediments. However, Yohey Suzuki and his team
at Tokyo University have pushed this record back by 2
billion years.
They extracted a 30-cm cylindrical rock core from the
Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, a 2-billion
year-old volcanic region. Upon slicing the core, they found
microbial cells in tiny fractures. DNA staining and imaging
with advanced microscopes confirmed the microbes were
indigenous, with intact cell walls, suggesting they were
active.
The researchers hypothesise that the microorganisms were
carried into the rock via water shortly after its formation.
Clay deposits in the fractures may have provided
nutrients. These microbes, primitive in evolutionary terms,
offer clues about Earth’s earliest life forms and their
evolution.
The study also has implications for Mars exploration.
Suzuki notes similarities between the Bushveld rocks and
Martian rocks, suggesting the same techniques could
identify life on Mars.”
This underscores the deep subsurface as a crucial
environment for microbial life,” says Manuel Reinhardt
from the University of Göttingen, while noting that
microorganisms colonised the rocks after crack
How were the microbes in the rock confirmed to be indigenous?
- By testing their ability to grow in nutrient-rich environments.
- By comparing their DNA to modern microbes found on Earth’s
surface. - By staining their DNA and using advanced microscopes to rule
out contamination. - By analysing clay deposits in the fractures of the rock.
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D.4
Answer: C
| Solution: |
| The passage notes that after slicing the rock core, researchers “found microbial cells in tiny fractures” and “DNA staining and imaging with advanced microscopes confirmed the microbes were indigenous, with intact cell walls,” indicating they were native and active, not contaminants. |
Question7
Read the passage given below and answer the four
questions that follow:
Microorganisms were discovered in tiny cracks within 2
billion-year-old rock in South Africa, making it the oldest
rock known to host life. This finding offers insights into
Earth’s early life and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Deep within Earth’s crust, billions of resilient microbes
survive in extreme isolation, far removed from sunlight,
oxygen, and food sources, growing at a glacial pace over
thousands or millions of years. Previously, the oldest
microbial traces were found in 100-million-year-old
seafloor sediments. However, Yohey Suzuki and his team
at Tokyo University have pushed this record back by 2
billion years.
They extracted a 30-cm cylindrical rock core from the
Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, a 2-billion
year-old volcanic region. Upon slicing the core, they found
microbial cells in tiny fractures. DNA staining and imaging
with advanced microscopes confirmed the microbes were
indigenous, with intact cell walls, suggesting they were
active.
The researchers hypothesise that the microorganisms were
carried into the rock via water shortly after its formation.
Clay deposits in the fractures may have provided
nutrients. These microbes, primitive in evolutionary terms,
offer clues about Earth’s earliest life forms and their
evolution.
The study also has implications for Mars exploration.
Suzuki notes similarities between the Bushveld rocks and
Martian rocks, suggesting the same techniques could
identify life on Mars.”
This underscores the deep subsurface as a crucial
environment for microbial life,” says Manuel Reinhardt
from the University of Göttingen, while noting that
microorganisms colonised the rocks after crack
What implication does the study have for Mars exploration?
- Mars lacks geological structures similar to those on Earth.
- Life on Mars, if present, would only exist on its surface.
- Techniques used on Earth’s rocks can help detect life in Martian
subsurface rocks. - Microorganisms on Mars are likely much younger than those on
Earth.
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
| Solution: |
| The passage notes similarities between the Bushveld rocks and Martian rocks and suggests “the same techniques could identify life on Mars,” implying methodologic transfer to search for subsurface biosignatures there |
Question8
Read the passage given below and answer the four
questions that follow:
Microorganisms were discovered in tiny cracks within 2
billion-year-old rock in South Africa, making it the oldest
rock known to host life. This finding offers insights into
Earth’s early life and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Deep within Earth’s crust, billions of resilient microbes
survive in extreme isolation, far removed from sunlight,
oxygen, and food sources, growing at a glacial pace over
thousands or millions of years. Previously, the oldest
microbial traces were found in 100-million-year-old
seafloor sediments. However, Yohey Suzuki and his team
at Tokyo University have pushed this record back by 2
billion years.
They extracted a 30-cm cylindrical rock core from the
Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, a 2-billion
year-old volcanic region. Upon slicing the core, they found
microbial cells in tiny fractures. DNA staining and imaging
with advanced microscopes confirmed the microbes were
indigenous, with intact cell walls, suggesting they were
active.
The researchers hypothesise that the microorganisms were
carried into the rock via water shortly after its formation.
Clay deposits in the fractures may have provided
nutrients. These microbes, primitive in evolutionary terms,
offer clues about Earth’s earliest life forms and their
evolution.
The study also has implications for Mars exploration.
Suzuki notes similarities between the Bushveld rocks and
Martian rocks, suggesting the same techniques could
identify life on Mars.”
This underscores the deep subsurface as a crucial
environment for microbial life,” says Manuel Reinhardt
from the University of Göttingen, while noting that
microorganisms colonised the rocks after crack
Why are the microbes described as “primitive in evolutionary
terms”?
- They evolved from Martian microorganisms.
- They lack DNA and structural complexity.
- They resemble Earth’s earliest life forms in terms of adaptation.
- They were found in relatively young volcanic sediments
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
| Solution: |
| The passage calls the microbes “primitive in evolutionary terms” and says they offer clues about Earth’s earliest life forms and their evolution, implying their simplicity and adaptations parallel ancient life. |
Question9
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that
follow:
This is a story from long ago, when the last remaining
traces of the British still lurked in their old haunts among
the pristine Himalayan hills of Darjeeling. These were the
early fifties, in other words.
I would spend entire days at a small, dusty bookshop with
a faded, green sign over it- a sign painted with gold letters
that said: “Mr Mun-Chee’s Books.” The paint was
chipped at many places; you could barely see the second
‘s’. The shabby old shop was located in a cul-de-sac, a few
hundred meters away from my own home. But inside, it
was another world. On the floor stood staggering,
towering piles of books, yellowed and aged, and the shelves
lining all the walls were crammed with journals, lexicons
and biographies, dramas, each laboriously catalogued and
meticulously arranged. Mr Mun-Chee dealt mostly in
antique books; first editions of books, long forgotten,
books one hardly ever encountered anymore. There were
sixteen editions of Jane Eyre, twenty-two of The Pickwick
Papers, and fifty of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It was not
famous, but it was unique; customers barely ever walked
in, as it was so hidden away in a run-down neighborhood.
Tabby, the black Tom, my only possession, and I, were
only disturbed five times that we spent there. And we
spent nearly an entire year at the shop.
The shop was my sanctuary. After the daily ordeal of
school, I invariably called out to Tabby and set out for the
shop, to read, read, read, with Tabby curled up around my
legs.
Mr Mun-Chee’s shop was not a new shop as _ .
- it was dusty
- its paint was chipped
- it was shabby
- it had a green sign
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| The paragraph states “The paint was chipped at many places; you could barely see the second ‘s’,” which indicates that the shop was not new. |
Question10
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that
follow:
This is a story from long ago, when the last remaining
traces of the British still lurked in their old haunts among
the pristine Himalayan hills of Darjeeling. These were the
early fifties, in other words.
I would spend entire days at a small, dusty bookshop with
a faded, green sign over it- a sign painted with gold letters
that said: “Mr Mun-Chee’s Books.” The paint was
chipped at many places; you could barely see the second
‘s’. The shabby old shop was located in a cul-de-sac, a few
hundred meters away from my own home. But inside, it
was another world. On the floor stood staggering,
towering piles of books, yellowed and aged, and the shelves
lining all the walls were crammed with journals, lexicons
and biographies, dramas, each laboriously catalogued and
meticulously arranged. Mr Mun-Chee dealt mostly in
antique books; first editions of books, long forgotten,
books one hardly ever encountered anymore. There were
sixteen editions of Jane Eyre, twenty-two of The Pickwick
Papers, and fifty of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It was not
famous, but it was unique; customers barely ever walked
in, as it was so hidden away in a run-down neighborhood.
Tabby, the black Tom, my only possession, and I, were
only disturbed five times that we spent there. And we
spent nearly an entire year at the shop.
The shop was my sanctuary. After the daily ordeal of
school, I invariably called out to Tabby and set out for the
shop, to read, read, read, with Tabby curled up around my
legs.
The author was ‘only disturbed five times’ refers to the fact
that___________ .
- very few customers walked in
- the shop was ‘another world’
- too many books were piled up
- it was in a run-down neighborhood
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: A
| Solution: |
| The paragraph says “customers barely ever walked in, as it was so hidden away in a run-down neighborhood,” followed by “ only disturbed five times that we spent there,” linking the few interruptions to the scarcity of customers. |
Question11
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that
follow:
This is a story from long ago, when the last remaining
traces of the British still lurked in their old haunts among
the pristine Himalayan hills of Darjeeling. These were the
early fifties, in other words.
I would spend entire days at a small, dusty bookshop with
a faded, green sign over it- a sign painted with gold letters
that said: “Mr Mun-Chee’s Books.” The paint was
chipped at many places; you could barely see the second
‘s’. The shabby old shop was located in a cul-de-sac, a few
hundred meters away from my own home. But inside, it
was another world. On the floor stood staggering,
towering piles of books, yellowed and aged, and the shelves
lining all the walls were crammed with journals, lexicons
and biographies, dramas, each laboriously catalogued and
meticulously arranged. Mr Mun-Chee dealt mostly in
antique books; first editions of books, long forgotten,
books one hardly ever encountered anymore. There were
sixteen editions of Jane Eyre, twenty-two of The Pickwick
Papers, and fifty of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It was not
famous, but it was unique; customers barely ever walked
in, as it was so hidden away in a run-down neighborhood.
Tabby, the black Tom, my only possession, and I, were
only disturbed five times that we spent there. And we
spent nearly an entire year at the shop.
The shop was my sanctuary. After the daily ordeal of
school, I invariably called out to Tabby and set out for the
shop, to read, read, read, with Tabby curled up around my
legs.
The author felt ‘at home’ in the shop as it _ .
- had all varieties of books
- was unique
- was situated near his house
- was his sanctuary
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: D
| Solution: |
| The paragraph concludes, “The shop was my sanctuary,” directly explaining why the author felt “at home” there. |
Question12
Read the given passage and answer the four questions that
follow:
This is a story from long ago, when the last remaining
traces of the British still lurked in their old haunts among
the pristine Himalayan hills of Darjeeling. These were the
early fifties, in other words.
I would spend entire days at a small, dusty bookshop with
a faded, green sign over it- a sign painted with gold letters
that said: “Mr Mun-Chee’s Books.” The paint was
chipped at many places; you could barely see the second
‘s’. The shabby old shop was located in a cul-de-sac, a few
hundred meters away from my own home. But inside, it
was another world. On the floor stood staggering,
towering piles of books, yellowed and aged, and the shelves
lining all the walls were crammed with journals, lexicons
and biographies, dramas, each laboriously catalogued and
meticulously arranged. Mr Mun-Chee dealt mostly in
antique books; first editions of books, long forgotten,
books one hardly ever encountered anymore. There were
sixteen editions of Jane Eyre, twenty-two of The Pickwick
Papers, and fifty of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It was not
famous, but it was unique; customers barely ever walked
in, as it was so hidden away in a run-down neighborhood.
Tabby, the black Tom, my only possession, and I, were
only disturbed five times that we spent there. And we
spent nearly an entire year at the shop.
The shop was my sanctuary. After the daily ordeal of
school, I invariably called out to Tabby and set out for the
shop, to read, read, read, with Tabby curled up around my
legs.
The word ‘Lexicon’ means:—-
- semantics
- syntax
- dictionary
- phonetics
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
| Solution: |
| In the paragraph, “lexicons” appear in a list of books alongside journals and biographies in a bookshop, so the word most appropriately mean “dictionary.” Meaning of the other options Semantics: study of meaning in language. Syntax: study of sentence structure and word arrangement. Phonetics: study of speech sounds and their production. |
Question13
Select the verb form that most appropriately completes the following
sentence:
My sister_________ me once or twice since the time she moved to
Athens.
had messaged
was messaging
has messaged
has been messaging
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| has messaged : Present Perfect shows an action started in the past and relevant now. Why not others: Has been messaging : implies ongoing activity, not occasional. Was messaging : past continuous, no present link. Had messaged : past perfect, for two past actions. |
Question14
Choose the correct antonym for Acquittal from the options given
below:
- confession
- conviction
- consent
- concord
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| Acquittal: legal judgment declaring a person not guilty. Correct antonym: Conviction : formal declaration of guilt, opposite of acquittal. Why not others: Confession : personal admission, not a verdict. Consent/Concord : mean agreement, unrelated to law. |
Question15
Fill in the blank with the correct word from the options given
below:
Film stars and models are known for their _ style.
- superior
- frugal
- taciturn
- flamboyant
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: D
| Solution: |
| Flamboyant : showy, stylish, attracts attention; fits film stars/models. Why not others: Superior : better in rank/quality, not style. Frugal : economical, opposite of flashy. Taciturn : reserved, unrelated to style. |
Question16
Fill in the blank with the correct word from the given options:
Research has proved the significance of leading a structured life
with enormous evidence to prove that mental fatigue can
actually_____ life.
- produce
- curtail
- prolong
- procure
Options:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
| Solution: |
| Curtail : to reduce or shorten; fits context of mental fatigue affecting life. Why not others: Produced : to make/create, irrelevant here. Prolong : means to extend, opposite meaning. Procure : to obtain, unrelated. |