Questions

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 ___________ conversation-starter cultivated by years of ostentatious ___________ society is a simple ‘how do you do?’ followed by a polite shaking of hands and an optional comment on the weather. But aside __________ the mental trauma this ritual causes to those unfortunate souls who suffer from clammy hands, it also doesn’t provide much incentive to go on. Fascinating as the weather can be from time _________ time, one can speak only so much about the ____________ of the sun and express sympathy towards the depressions the Bay of Bengal faces.

from time _________ time, one

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

Burn the midnight oil

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".

He (has to develop) self-confidence, so leave him alone.

Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

True, It is the function of the army to maintain law and order in abnormal times. But in normal times there is another force that compels citizens to obey the laws and to act with due regard to the rights of others. The force also protects the lives and the properties of law abiding men. Laws are made to secure the personal safety of its subjects and to prevent murder and crimes of violence. They are made to secure the property of the citizens against theft and damage to protect the rights of communities and castes to carry out their customs and ceremonies, so long as they do not conflict with the rights of others. Now the good citizen, of his own free will obey these laws and he takes care that everything he does is done with due regard to the rights and well-being of others. But the bad citizen is only restrained from breaking these laws by fear of the consequence of his actions. And the necessary steps to compel the bad citizen to act as a good citizen are taken by this force. The supreme control of law and order in a State is in the hands of a Minister who is responsible to the State Assembly and acts through the Inspector General of Police.

According to the writer, which one of the following is not the responsibility of the police ?

In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.

There is now a reasonably ______ body of evidence suggesting that, even from the most rigorous scientific perspective, unselfishness and concern for others are not only in our own interests but also, in a sense, innate to our biological nature.

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: Young boys and girls seem to have become inordinately addicted to these sites.
Q: The parents, teachers and the government must look into the problems being caused by these networking sites and must formulate a strategy either to curb or completely stop its fast growing negative influence on the minds of our youth.
R: Smart-phones, computers, social media, internet and networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have become source of major distractions for students.
S: They are thoughtlessly and uselessly wasting their precious time on these sites.

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.

The Principal said to us, "Today you will get your diplomas."

The female reproductive part of a flower is called