Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam — Set 236

Directions(1-5): In each of the following sentences an idiomatic expression or a proverb is highlighted. Select the alternative which best describes the meaning of the proverb. If none of the words/ groups of words represents the meaning, mark E i.e. 'none of the above' as the answer.

1. The company was keen at (cutting down) on the employee overheads in order to make the business profitable.
   Reduce
   Spike
   Ensure
   Elongate
   None of the above
   Option A
   
   
    



2. It was difficult to (put up with) the nagging relatives during the growth years.
   Decorate
   Issue
   Endure
   Ricochet
   Prioritise
   Option C
   
   
    



3. The commissioner advised the fugitives (to turn in) themselves to get some legal respite.
   Lessen
   Accentuate
   Retard
   Liberate
   Surrender
   Option E
   Accentuate means make more noticeable or prominent.
   Retard means delay or hold back in terms of progress or development.
   Liberate means set (someone) free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression
   
    



4. Aniket was willing to (go overboard) for receiving a scholarship to pursue higher education overseas.
   Remove
   Stretch
   Incur
   Liquidate
   Enhance
   Option B
   
   
    



5. The central bank was of the idea that it was not suitable (to bail out) the ailing cooperatives.
   Descend
   Alter
   Entertain
   Reverse
   Sell
   Option E
   'To bail out' means to withdraw from an obligation or commitment; sell out.
   
    


Directions(6-10): In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers correspond to the question numbers; against each question, five words have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appropriately.

The objective of ensuring stability of pulse prices is rooted in (6) fluctuations in production levels. It won’t be an understatement to say that the prevailing prices of pulses are at a reasonably stable level. The prices of the five major pulses have been in the comfortable range of Rs 60-75 per kg for quite some time now, as compared to previous high levels of Rs 100-150 because of lower production due to drought. Food inflation has been (7) in containing overall inflation.
Elementary economics says that price is majorly the (8) of interplay between demand and supply. A basic study of the (9) between the production of pulses and their prices reaffirms that the latter is much influenced by the supply side as the demand is more or less increasing at a steady (and predictable) pace. Thus, it may be said that price fluctuations are largely the (10) of production fluctuations.
6. Curb
   Curbing
   Having curbed
   Have been curbing
   Curbed
   Option B
   
   
    



7. Detrimental
   Stabilising
   Instrumental
   Encouraging
   Smoothening
   Option C
   
   
    



8. Importance
   Prominence
   Consequence
   Concern
   Termination
   Option C
   
   
    



9. Renumeration
   Enhancement
   Transformation
   Improvement
   Correlation
   Option E
   
   
    



10. Impact
    Variation
    Capacity
    Approach
    Constant
    Option A