FILL IN THE BALNKS QUIZ 001
- Digital India is the latest The__________ is that what goes missing in the search of a “technological fix” is human beings themselves.
(a) rebuff, frustration
(b) repulse, deference
(c) repulse, consideration
(d) enchantment, irony
(e) increased, pleased
Answer Option :4
Solution »
Few word meanings : enchantment – fascination, irony – satire,
The first fill in the blank (FITB) comes after the definite article ‘the’. We know that articles introduce a noun. So, we expect a noun in the first FITB. If we look at the options, we have two words which can be used here as nouns. ‘Rebuff’ in option (a) and ‘enchantment’ in option (d). Therefore the other options are eliminated.
In option (a) – ‘rebuff’ means rejection and ‘enchantment’ means fascination. If the first FITB has to be ‘rebuff’, the second sentence must contain something regarding rejection or a reason for doing that. However, we do not get any such hint. If something is rejected, then it cannot ‘go missing’ as suggested in the second sentence. There is nothing to ‘go’ for if it is rejected.
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS OPTION (d). ‘Enchantment’ means attraction’. Something ‘goes’ (as suggested in the second sentence) only if there is attraction to walk in that direction. The word ‘irony’ means satire.
- A ________modernity has ________the belief that technology can bring about the liberation of human beings.
(a) inarticulate, abstained
(b) glib, perpetrated
(c) quiet, constrained
(d) uncommunicative, declined
(e) dominate, worried
Answer Option :2
Solution »
glib, perpetrated
glib – superficial, not deep,
perpetrated – perform
The first fill in the blank (FITB) is preceded by ‘A’. So, the word in the first FITB cannot start with a vowel sound. On this count, option (a) and option (d) both can be eliminated. Further, the word modernity being a noun, it should be preceded by an adjective. Thus, option (e) goes out. The choice is between (b) and (c).
Technology can be associated with modernity, and is brought about by modernity. It is a common observation that modernity has encouraged the thought that technology is uplifting for the human race. In option (c), the word ‘constrained’ means restricted. So, according to common sense, this option does not fit.
In option (b), ‘gilb’ means- fluent in words, but insincere and shallow. Here, based on the context, ‘perpetrate’ means to spread.THERFORE, OPTION (b) IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.
- The rapid growth and popularity of taxis ‘managed’ by ________across India is a testimony to the fact that public transport and transit facilities remain hopelessly________.
(a) usually, critical
(b) aggregators, inadequate
(c) similarly, adequate
(d) individuality, subjected
(e) particularly, competent
Answer Option :2
Solution »
Aggregator-a person or organization that collects information
The first fill in the blank (FITB) is preceded by a preposition ‘by’. As prepositions indicate the arrival of a noun, the word in the first FITB should be a noun. Options (a), (c) and (e) are eliminated.
For the 2nd FITB, the idea is that the transport facilities are hopeless. The second word ‘subjected’ in the option (d) is meaningless in that context. Only the word ‘inadequate’ in option (b) makes sense.
THERFORE, OPTION (b) IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.
- We are in a _________in which 71 per cent of rural India owns mobile phones while 75 per cent of it lives on Rs. 33 per day.
(a) portent
(b) thaumaturgy
(c) conjuncture
(d) wonder
(e) strange
Answer Option :3
Solution »
Without looking at the options, if we try to fill up the blank, which words come to our mind?
Condition, position, etc.
The closest word is conjuncture.
‘conjuncture’ means- a state of affairs.
THERFORE, OPTION (c) IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.
- Modi’s Digital India speech at Silicon Valley showed his remarkable continuity with the policies of post-independence governments, which_________ ignored the fundamental bases of development, health and education, leading to_________ failures in eliminating deprivation.
(a) grievously, colossal
(b) pleasant, manikin
(c) harmless, infinitesimal
(d) churlish, diminutive
(e) loathe, diminish
Answer Option :1
Solution »
This is a question where the two words the two fill in the blanks (FITBs) are connected. Here something is being ignored leading to failures. If hugely ignored, then naturally you expect the failure to be huge. If less ignored, the failure will be small. It is like saying that if you hugely ignore your study, then your failure in exam will also be huge.
(2) But, the question can be solved using another logic. Look at the first FITB. It comes before or precedes the verb. Therefore, it can be safely assumed to be connected to the verb, and hence should be an adverb.
Among the options, only the first word of option (a) has an adverb.
THERFORE, OPTION (a) IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.
Word meanings: grievously – painfully, colossal – big.
- This is__ These politicians are so-called _________of democracy and are expected to be role models for the citizens of this country.
(a) childish, future
(b) secular, stars
(c) ashamed, builder
(d) disgraceful, upholders
(e) bias, performance
Answer Option :4
Solution »
The only word which fits with politicians in the 2nd fill in the blank (FITB) is ‘upholders’ which is in option (d).
- The matter of the national anthem is not urgent but is being ruled upon, while the finalisation of a new procedure to appoint judges ________in limbo.
(a) halcyon
(b) inattentive
(c) lethargic
(d) emigrate
(e) remains
Answer Option :5
Solution »
Word meanings:
Halcyon- happy and peaceful.
Emigrate- leave one’s own country in order to settle permanently in another.
Limbo- unfinished, incomplete, in abeyance, unattended to.
Based on the context, the only word that fits in is ‘remains’.
- The odd-even scheme may be a welcome intervention to reduce traffic _______in the Union Territory, but the decision to clamp down on surge pricing by aggregators such as Uber and Ola, which is set to continue even after Phase Two of the odd-even scheme ends on April 30, is________ .
(a) gala performance, unbiased
(b) opener, disadvantageous
(c) congestion, counterproductive
(d) premiere, detrimental
(e) preview, differential
Answer Option :3
Solution »
The only word which can be associated with traffic is ‘congestion’ in option (c). The contrasting word ‘but’ used after “Union Territory’ demands that the word in the 2nd fill in the blank should be opposite of ‘welcome intervention’ used in the first part of the sentence. Therefore, the 2nd word should be ‘counterproductive’ in option (c).
- Depending upon how humanity chooses to use it, technology can enhance or________ any aspect of life.
(a) depressed
(b) finish
(c) problem
(d) hinder
(e) featured
Answer Option :4
Solution »
The structure of the sentence makes it clear that the word in the fill in the blank should be opposite in nature to the word ‘enhance’. ‘Enhance’ means to increase. The closest antonym of ‘enhance’ is hinder in option (d), which means to obstruct or restrain.
- It’s really ________ that major political parties have ________advertisements which attack prominent political personalities.
(a) surprising, issued
(b) usual, favoured
(c) challenging, created
(d) discernible, raised
(e) striking, directed
Answer Option :1
Solution »
The correct expression is ‘issued advertisements’.
- People invented ways of carrying both conversation and written communication between their communities to keep in _________with one another as travel became simpler.
(a) lines
(b) faith
(c) distance
(d) touch
(e) check
Answer Option :4
Solution »
‘keep in touch’ is the correct expression for communication or contact with others.
- As families and friends have moved away from one another, the telephone, even its cellular form, has allowed humanity to _________the necessary links among its members.
(a) maintain
(b) teleport
(c) cut
(d) curb
(e) regulation
Answer Option :1
Solution »
If we attempt the question without looking at the sentences, the word ‘keep’ or a related word may come to our mind. Therefore, the correct answer is the word ‘maintain’ which is similar in meaning.
- What should worry us is not the digital divide, but the fundamental divide between a rapidly growing technological capability and a ________growth in eliminating human_________.
(a) diligent, forbearance
(b) zealous, offering
(c) snail-like, deprivation
(d) enthusiastic, endowment
(e) irritation, predicating
Answer Option :3
Solution »
snail-like, deprivation
snail-like – slow,
deprivation – needs
In this sentence, rapidly growing technological capability is being compared to and contrasted with a _______ growth. Clearly, the word here should be of opposite meaning to that of ‘rapid’. The only option available is ‘snail like’ which means ‘slow’.
- If Uber and Ola are charging their customers _________sums, the only long-term solution for the Delhi government is to provide its________ with cheaper and better public transport.
(a) moral, foreigner
(b) principled, immigrant
(c) scrupulous, eminent
(d) ethical, community
(e) unscrupulous , residents
Answer Option :5
Solution »
If the Delhi Govt is to provide cheaper and better public transport, then Uber and Ola must be charging large sums of money unethically. The only word nearest to this meaning is ‘unscrupulous’ in option (e).
Word meaning:
Unscrupulous- having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
- Prisoners in Punjab have easy access to mobile phones, drugs and social media which are used to extort and threaten victims and conduct business as usual from the secure ________of jails.
(a) comatose
(b) particular
(c) breathless
(d) confines
(e) windless
Answer Option :4
The word that comes to mind is ‘area’ of jails or ‘compound’ of jails. The closest option available is the word ‘confines’ in option (d).
- Published in FILL IN THE BALNKS