Questions

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.
dead ringer

Name the professional Indian basketball player who became the first ever player to be drafted from India into the National Basketball Association (NBA).

As of February 2018, who has taken charge as the Chairman of the Tata Sons empire, before which he was the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)?

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

In a work ____________ art, each layer and texture, colour ____________ perspective creates an individualistic vision, which can mean different things to different viewers and even to its creator at different points of time. The audience does not ____________ see the struggle or uncertainty of the _____________ process, only its outcome. And sometimes, ___________ in the case of icons, the passage of time reveals the glow within.

texture, colour ____________ perspective creates

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The written word is necessarily confined _________ the things of the understanding because only the understanding has written language; whereas art deals ___________ ideas of a different mental texture, which words can only vaguely ____________. However, there are a large number of people who, _____________ they cannot be said to have experienced in a full sense any works of art, have undoubtedly the impelling desire which a little direction may lead on to a fuller ____________. And it is to such that books on art are useful.

necessarily confined _________ the things of

In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct/Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct speech.

My father said to me, "Don't talk to your mother like that."

The question below consists of a set of labelled sentences. These sentences, when properly sequenced form a coherent paragraph. Select the most logical order of sentences from among the options.

P: Those who say death should be the punishment in some cases, agree that it is to be in special cases alone, the most heinous and gravest of crimes.
Q: They feel that it is only fear of severe punishment that will deter the criminal and reduce the occurrence of heinous crimes.
R: The advocates and the abolitionists of capital punishment have their own arguments in support of their stand.
S: The most prominent argument put forth by the advocates of the death penalty is that of deterrence.

Read the passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the given four alternatives.

One should consciously engage in activities that will nourish your soul. Just as we nourish the body, we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative power of the universe and to manifest joy in our lives. Often, we forget to address the soul, lost as we are in a jungle of material and sensual pleasures. But the more you embrace what feeds your soul, the happier you become. So if you want to enjoy the abundance of life, engage in what enriches your soul. Nurturing the soul is all about finding calm amidst chaos. There are a number of practices that empower people towards this end including silent contemplation, various forms of meditation, yoga and tai chi However, the rigor and discipline involved in the pursuit of such practices often seems to discourage people. Add to this, the temptations of the material world that leave little time and motivation for anyone to pursue the spiritual path. Poet Walt Whitman declared: “Whatever satisfies the soul is truth”. The good news is that simple, everyday activities can also nutrify the soul — like spending time in the midst of nature, dancing in the rain or just putting thoughts on paper. Do whatever is calming and pleases you. Creative pursuits are particularly appealing as inside each one of us, there is an artist craving for release and awaiting an opportunity for expression. One of the ways to indulge the artist within is to get started with the practice of any one or more of the creative art forms such as music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction or essay writing.

When you engage in such soul nourishing activities, all thought and energy gets focused toward goal accomplishment. At this point, you will find that even unknown forces of the universe are conniving to assist you in your amateurish but sincere attempts. As you progress, you are motivated to do better. You touch and access a faculty, a part of you that you never knew existed. Your inner artist is unleashed, baring the beauty of your soul that has found a fond medium of expression. For instance, a sculptor’s soul is seen in his artwork; a musician’s in his compositions; an actor’s in his acting, a painter’s in his paintings and so on. It is immaterial whether your effort is an immaculate artwork or just a clumsy attempt by a layperson. The idea is to try, be inspired and to create giving free rein to the mind. As Michelangelo remarked: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”!

What can you infer from Michelangelo’s statement - "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free"?