Common Mistakes in English Usage

Whether you like it or not, any management entrance examination like CAT, XAT, SNAP, etc. will judge you by your quality of using right word in right context. The first thing you should do is to avoid the most common spelling mistakes. Below you’ll find 10 such mistakes to get you started.

10 common spelling mistakes

1. accept / except

INCORRECT: Please except this gift.
CORRECT: Please accept this gift.

Except, as a verb, means to exclude or leave out. As a preposition it means “with the exception of.” Accept means “to receive willingly.” For example: We visited every landmark except the Eiffel Tower. The school is accepting only those students who have had their shots; all others are excepted.

2. advice / advise

INCORRECT: He refused to take my advise.
CORRECT: He refused to take my advice.

Advise is a verb. The s has the sound of “z.” Advice is a noun. The c has the sound of “s.”

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Verbal Sample Questions

Verbal Sample Questions: Directions for next 3 Verbal Sample Questions: Read the passage given below and answer the verbal sample questions accordingly.

In a certain society, there are two marriage groups, Red and Brown. No marriage is permitted within a group. On marriage, males become part of their wife’s group: women remain in their own group. Children belong to the same group as their parents. Widowers and divorced males revert to the group of their birth. Marriage to more than one person at the same time and marriage to a direct descendant are forbidden.

1. A Brown female could have had
I. a grandfather born Red
II. a grandmother born Red
III. two grandfathers born Brown.
a. I only
b. II only
c. I and II only
d. I, II and III

2. A male born into the Brown group may have
a. an uncle in either group
b. a Brown daughter
c. a son-in-law born into the Red group
d. a daughter-in-law in the Red group.

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Verbal Questions – fireup.co.in

Directions for next 5 questions: In each question below a set of four statements is given, followed by five answer options to categories these statements as facts, inferences, and judgments. Consider the statements and decide which of the choices out of the four given is true.

F: Fact: If it relates to a known matter of direct observation, or an existing reality or something known to be true.
J: Judgment: If it is an opinion or estimate or anticipation of common sense or intention.
I: Inference: If it is a logical conclusion or deduction about something, based on the knowledge of facts

1. 1. The Pharma companies in India often conduct controversial clinical trials exploiting the ignorant and illiterate volunteers.
2. Minster of State for Health Panbaka Lakshmi raised this issue in the Parliament ordering an inquiry against “Shreen Cancer Institute of Tamil Nadu”.
3. Full length debate followed in the Parliament and the Union Cabinet constituted a Central drug authority to check and monitor the illegal clinical trials by the drug makers.
4. There have been many instances of drugs being tested without consent. It is maintained by the Enquiry Proceedings that Sun Pharma’s Letrozole was illegally tried on 400 women.
(1) IFFJ
(2) IFIF
(3) IFFF
(4) IFIJ
(5) JFJF

2. 1. The Director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences opines that in India the socio-economic profile shows dismal picture, as the majority of volunteers are poor, illiterate, and prone to exploitation by the drug makers.
2. In the last ten years, the pharma industry has grown in size but the regulatory staff of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) remains the same; a team of only 10 professionals to monitor the drug abuse.
3. There is no publicly accessible national data available in the country to check the drug abuse and often medical devices are not notified by the drug makers.
4. Violations under the Drugs Abuse Act are a punishable offence but the drug makers are aware of the loopholes of the Drugs Act and they often go unpunished.
(1) IFIJ
(2) JFJF
(3) IJFI
(4) IFFJ
(5) FFFI

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Verbal ability questions

Verbal ability questions: Directions for next 4 Verbal ability questions: In each verbal ability questions, the word at the top of the table is used in four different ways, numbered 1 to 4. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is INCORRECT or INAPROPRIATE.

1. CURTAIN
a. The mother drew the curtains to let in the sunlight so that the child would wake up.
b. The audience grew inpatient as the curtain failed to go up well past the scheduled time.
c. The agreement brought the curtain down on the long-standing dispute.
d. A curtain of secrecy shrouded the deal.

2. GLASS
a. The wine glass with its stem looks elegant and delicate.
b. Glass containers are easy to clean and hygienic for strong provisions.
c. Manisha packed all her glasses and china carefully in the crate.
d. I didn’t recognize Sophie, at first, as she was wearing dark glasses.

3. HELP
a. I can’t help thinking that the police know far more about the case than they admit to.
b. The newly recruited candidate will help the marketing manager.
c. Parents should teach children to help with the housework.
d. It helped the patient greatly to be able to discuss his condition.

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CAT Verbal Ability Questions

Direction for next 3 CAT Verbal Ability Questions: Each verbal ability questions consists of 4 sentences on a topic. Some of them are grammatically incorrect/ inappropriate. Select the one which indicates the correct option.

1.
A. Most mobile phone and cable companies are no longer content just to selling Web access to consumers.
B. After investing in high speed pipes, they also want to peddle more of lucrative products, such as TV programs, movies and phone calls.
C. But selling those extras puts the phone and cable companies in competition with Web services big and small.
D. The network operators could block consumers from popular sites such as Google, in favour of their own.
a) C & D
b) D
c) B
d) A & C
e) C

2. A. A Google- Sun Alliance, if it flowers, could take advantage of new technology for running applications on the web, one that eliminates the sluggishness and limited functions of traditional Web-based programs.
B. But advances in technology and the hints dropped by the very secretive Google suggests that it could become a reality few years down the road.
C. In the longer run, however, this could be a big deal indeed for the computer users, especially in home, in school and in small businesses.
D. While lacking some of the polishes of Microsoft Word or Excel, Star Office is more than adequate for most consumers, educational and small business uses.
a) B & C
b) B,C & D
c) A & D
d) A
e) A & B

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Verbal Questions for CAT, MAT, XAT and BANK PO EXAM

Verbal Questions for CAT-  Directions for next 5 CAT Verbal Questions: In each verbal questions, the word at the top is used in 4 different ways, labeled a to d. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is INCORRECT or INAPPROPRIATE.

1. KEY

a. He was a key figure in the campaign.

b. She played a sonata in the key E flat major.

c. I wanted to key his reaction after I asked him the question.

d. The key is, how long can the federal government control the inflation rate.

2. KILL

a. I was in at the kill when she finally lost her job.

b. The captain stood on the kill of the ship.

c. The fighter plane prepared to move in for the kill.

d. Don’t kill yourself trying to get the work done by tomorrow. It can wait.

3. STATE

a. The man died in a state of grace.

b. State clearly how many driven in state throught the streets.

d. My hair gets full of state when I brush it.

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Euphemism – Definition and Examples

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This week’s Lesson – Euphemisms

What is Euphemisms?

Euphemisms are agreeable or inoffensive substitutes for expressions that might offend someone or suggest something unpleasant. Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.

For example, ‘death penalty’ can be considered as an offensive expression by some. Its euphemism will be ‘capital punishment’. For more commonly used euphemisms see below.

Opposite of Euphemism

Dysphemism is usage of a nasty term for something not-nasty

Common Usage of Euphemisms

I am sure you will have many more such substitutes which you use in formal environment. Share them with all by commenting below.

Verbal Ability Sample Questions

Verbal Ability Sample Questions- Directions for next 3 verbal ability sample questions: In each question, there are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the italicized and highlighted words/phrases, select the most appropriate words/phrases to form correct sentences. Then from the options given below choose the best alternative.

1. The cricket council that was[A]/were[B] elected last March is[A]/are[B] at sixes and
sevens over new rules.
The critics censored[A]/censured[B] the new movie because of it’s social
unacceptability.
Amit’s explanation for missing the meeting was credulous[A]/credible[B].
She coughed discreetly[A]/discretly[B] to announce her presence.
a) BBAAA
b) AAABA
c)BBBBA
d)AABBA
e)BBBAA

2. The further[A]/farther[B] he pushed himself, the more disillusioned he grew.
For the crowds it was more of a historical[A]/historic[B] event; for their leader, it was just another day.
The old man has a healthy distrust[A]/mistrust[B] for all new technology.
This film is based on a real[A]/true[B] story.
One suspects that the compliment[A]/complement[B] was backhanded. (
a)BABAB
b)ABBBA
c)BAABA
d)BBAAB
e)ABABA

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Verbal Questions

Directions for questions next 5 Verbal Questions: Sentences given in each verbal question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. The first and last sentences are 1 and 6, and the four in-between are labeled A, B, C and D. Choose the most logical order of these four sentences from among the four given choices to construct a coherent paragraph from sentences 1 to 6.

1. [1] India’s experience of industrialization is characteristic of the difficulties faced by a newly independent developing country.
A. In 1947, India was undoubtedly an under-developed country with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world.
B. Indian industrialization was the result of a conscious, deliberate policy of growth by an indigenous political elite.
C. Today India ranks fifth in the international community of nations if measured in terms of purchasing power.
D. Even today, however, the benefits of Indian industrialization since independence have not reached the masses.
6. Industrialization in India has been a limited success; one more example of growth without development.
a. CDAB
b. DCBA
c. CABD
d. BACD
e. ABCD

2. [1] The necessity for regional integration in South Asia is underlined by the very history of the last 45 years since the liquidation of the British empire in this part of the world.
A. After the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Pakistan was formed in that very area which the imperial powers had always marked out as the potential base for operations against the Russian power in Central Asia.
B. Because of the disunity and ill-will among the South Asian neighbours, particularly India and Pakistan, great powers from outside the area could meddle into their affairs and thereby keep neighbours apart.
C. It needs to be added that it was the bountiful supply of sophisticated arms that emboldened Pakistan to go for warlike bellicosity towards India.
D. As a part of the cold war strategy of the US, Pakistan was sucked into Washington’s military alliance spreading over the years.
6. Internally too, it was the massive induction of American arms into Pakistan which empowered the military junta of that country to stub out the civilian government and destroy democracy in Pakistan.
a. ACBD
b. ABDC
c. CBAD
d. DCAB
e. BADC

3. [1] The success of any unit in a competitive environment depends on prudent management sources.
A. In this context, it would have been more appropriate, if the concept of accelerated depreciation, together with additional incentives towards capital allowances for recouping a portion of the cost of replacements out of the current generations, had been accepted.
B. Added to this are negligible retention of profits because of inadequate capital allowances and artificial disallowances of genuine outflows.
C. One significant cause for poor generation of surpluses is the high cost of capital and its servicing cost.
D. The lack of a mechanism in Indian tax laws for quick recovery of capital costs has not received its due attention.
6. While this may apparently look costly from the point of view of the exchequer, the ultimate cost to the government and the community in the form of losses suffered through poor viability will be prohibitive.
a. ADBC
b. BCDA
c. CBDA
d. DBAC
e. CBAD

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CAT Verbal Sample Questions

CAT Verbal Sample Questions- Directions for next 5 CAT Verbal Sample Questions: In each of the following CAT verbal sample questions, identify the sentences with errors and then mark the respective choice as your answer.

1. A. show me an intelligent woman in a house and I will show you an unhappy man in the same place.
B. they were charged for murder.
C. she was advised to lie in the bed for a week.
D. under-confident people have a problem with expressing themselves and portrayal of their true feelings.
(A) A and D
(B) C and A
(C) B and D
(D) B and A
(E) D and A

2. A. it is not only important to enthusiastic but also to feel it.
B. the reliance group has come up with a costumer-friendly scheme, for people who can’t pay the entire amount at one go.
C. Dora can’t go to the party tonight because she is studying for final examinations.
D. I understand your apprehensions regarding the new project.
(A) A and D
(B) B and C
(C) A and B
(D) D and C
(E) all of these

3. A. the quake-hit people worked hard to keep the dog from the door.
B. what are you referring to?
C. Three froths of the cake are been eaten.
D. the majority believes that a male child is better than a female.
(A) Only A
(B) A, B and D
(C) A and D
(D) only D
(E) A and C

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