CAT Verbal Ability questions and tips to practice

CAT Sentence Completion Questions and answers

(Effective words, Phrases, Prepositions, Conjunctions etc.)

Direction – Each of the following questions has a word or group of words missing. Four or five alternative words are given. You have to find out which one of them would make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.

1. Some of the luggage ………. not yet arrived.

(A) has (Ans)

(B) have

(D) are

2. One of the ……… injured.

(A) player was

(B) players were

(D) players are

3. We should always be careful in the choice of ………

(A) our friend

(B) our friends (Ans)

(D) ours friends

4. He talks as if he ……. a fool.

(A) is

(B) was

(D) has been

5. He …….. since morning.

(A) is playing

(B) has been playing (Ans)

(D) will be playing

6. When the meeting began, everybody took …….

(A) his seat (Ans)

(B) their seat

(D) one’s seat

7. I wonder whether I …….. ever see him again.

(A) shall

(B) will

(D) would (Ans)

8. I …… sing well when I was younger.

(A) could (Ans)

(B) might

(D) did

9. No sooner …… than the police handcuffed him.

(A) he came

(B) did he came

(D) had he come

10. We …… some friends in for dinner tomorrow night.

(A) have

(B) are having (Ans)

(D) will have

11. “What exactly does he want?”

“He would like to see you ……. a good job on the project.”

(A) got (Ans)

(B) get

(D) will get

12. “She was sorry she didn’t attend her friend’s wedding.”

“Yes, she ……. “

(A) regretted she can’t have gone

(B) was regretting she does not go

(D) was regretting that she couldn’t go (Ans)

13. “Sujata is late in he office”.

“She rarely comes in time ……?”

(A) don’t she

(B) does she (Ans)

(D) won’t she

14. “There is a visitor here”

“All right man I …….”

(A) shall be expecting this man

(B) am expecting this man (Ans)

(D) had to expect this man

15. “Can we start our match?

“No, we can’t unless the referee ……..”

(A) will not give the signal

(B) gives the signal (Ans)

(D) does not give the signal

16. “Why is he breathing so fast”?

“The teacher made him ….. a ;mile as measure of punishment for his coming late”.

(A) running

(B) to run

(D) run (Ans)

17. He behaves as if he ……. a king.

(A) was

(B) were (Ans)

(D) had

18. Do not look ……. the poor.

(A) down

(B) up

(D) down upon (Ans)

19. The dog has been ….. by the car.

(A) run out

(B) run over (Ans)

(D) run for

20. …… you apologize I shall punish you.

(A) until

(B) unless (Ans)

(D) none of these

21. I spoke to the chairman …………. he was sitting alone in the cabin.

(A) where

(B) when (Ans)

(D) whenever

22. I went directly to my boss to …….. his approval.

(A) order

(B) restore

(D) collect

(E) gain

23. It was an unhappy life …….. I lived, full of many anxieties.

(A) that (Ans)

(B) which

(D) where

(E) though

24. My concern for Jugal’s future was very ….. as he was not in job then.

(A) strong (Ans)

(B) big

(D) powerful

(E) much

25. She remained there for hours after Jayant ……….. gone.

(A) had (Ans)

(B) did

(D) has

(E) was

Common Errors

Exercise for Practice

1. Many a man / have / been working / under me. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘have’ to ‘has’ to make the verb singular. ‘Many a’ is always followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.

2. Cattles / were grazing / in the meadows / near our farm. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : A – Change ‘cattles’ to ‘cattle’. ‘Cattle’ is one of those collective nouns which though singular in form are always used as plurals.

3. I told him / the story / in details / to make him understand it fully. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : C – Change ‘details’ to ‘detail’.

4. I have / two sister-in-laws / whose husbands / are all well settled in Delhi. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘sister-in-laws’ to ‘sister-in-law’. Plural of such compound words is formed by adding ‘s’ in the first constituent of the compound word.

5. Many a person / have lost / their life / and property in the riots. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘have’ to ‘has’. Refer to answer to Q.No. 1

6. As he stood / below the shower / the sharp jets of / ice cold water revived his spirit. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Change ‘spirit’ to ‘spirits’, as it is always used in plural form.

7. The man / who I have / often mentioned is one whose friendship / I could wish to acquire, because he is a respectable man. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘who’ to ‘whom’. Subjective form should not be used for the word functioning as object.

8. In my youth / I used to / visit / Sharma’s and Chawla’s company. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Delete ‘s from Sharma’s. When two nouns are closely connected the apostrophe’s is added only to the second.

9. The doctor said / the patient / should not have wasted / a whole week before coming for help. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Insert ‘the’ before ‘patient’ since there is emphasis on the word ‘patient’.

10. This girl / wrote an essay / so well that / her teacher was exceedingly pleased with her. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : A – Substitute ‘an’ by ‘the’ before ‘essay’. The sentence lays emphasis on ‘essay’.

11. The old man told / his son that / there was no such thing / for luck. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Substitute ‘for’ by ‘as’. ‘Such’ is generally followed by ‘as’.

12. Bacteria is / probably the most / common form / of life on earth. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : A – Change ‘Bacteria’ to ‘Bacterium’, since the singular form of ‘Bacteria’ is ‘Bacterium’.

13. Different / authorities defines / intelligence in / different ways. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘defines’ to define’ to make it plural in order to get it to agree with the plural subject ‘authorities’.

14. The classical / systems of dance has / many features / in common. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘has’ to ‘have’ to make it plural in order to get it to agree with the plural subject ‘systems’.

15. Everyone of the students / has brought / his / identity card. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : A – Where the number is limited or is implied to be limited ‘each one’ will be a better usage than ‘everyone’.

16. On Friday evening / Mamta and me / took a coach / for Patna and arrived at Jamal’s house. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Substitute ‘me’ by ‘I’. Objective form of pronoun should not be used for one functioning as subject.

17. The conference was / attended / by more than / one hundred delegates. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : E – The sentence is correct.

18. There are / no conducted tours / for tourist to visit all the / important places. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Change ‘tourist’ to ‘tourists’.

19. He neglects / attending lectures / regularly / though college is only a few yards away from his house. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Put ‘the’ before ‘college’, since ‘college’ here has been particularized.

20. If you saw / the amount of Samosas / he consumed at breakfast this morning, / you would understand why he is so over-weight / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Replace ‘amount’ by ‘unmber’.

21. In my opinion / the balance sheet exhibits / a true and fair / view of the state of affairs of the bank. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : E – The sentence is correct.

22. Everyman, woman and child / is now aware / of the terrible consequences of / habit of smoking. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : D – Put ‘the’ before ‘habit’ since ‘habit’ here has been particularized, the habit of smoking.

23. The crowd at the stadium / clapped jubilantly / when the champion / received his trophy. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : E – The sentence is correct.

24. Our state will / not be divided / into two parts / at any cost. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : E – The sentence is correct.

25. This is one of / the most interesting book / I have / ever read. / No error
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

Ans : B – Change ‘book’ to ‘books’.

CAT Synonyms

Direction – In each of the questions below choose, from the alternatives given, the word which is Most Nearly The Same In Meaning of the numbered word.

1. Alacrity :

(A) Briskness (answer)

(B) Fear

(D) Alarm

(E) None

2. Busy :

(A) Active

(B) Occupied

(D) Diligent

(E) None

3. Bitterness :

(A) Sourness

(B) Hoarseness

(D) Aspersion

(E) None

4. Sterile :

(A) Dry

(B) Barren (answer)

(D) Arid

(E) None

5. Altercation :

(A) Choice

(B) Charge

(D) Distribution

(E) None

6. Prohibit :

(A) Prescribe

(B) Forfeit

(D) Provide

7. Stupid :

(A) Rude

(B) Dull (answer)

(D) Obstinate

8. Synopsis :

(A) Index

(B) Mixture

(D) Puzzle

9. Graphic :

(A) Moving

(B) Timid

(D) Instructive

10. Showy :

(A) Rowdy

(B) Hungry

(D) Gaudy (answer)

11. Annihilate :

(A) Destroy (answer)

(B) Entrain

(D) Testify

12. Pacify :

(A) Gather

(B) Allot

(D) Remit

13. Liberal :

(A) Broad-minded

(B) Generous (answer)

(D) Imaginative

14. Security :

(A) Boldness

(B) Safety (answer)

(D) Confidence

15. Diligent :

(A) Fool

(B) Unhappy

(D) Disappointment

16. Predominant :

(A) Lovable

(B) Important (answer)

(D) Assurance

17. Utility :

(A) Benefit

(B) Usefulness (answer)

(D) Advantage

18. Compassion :

(A) Kindness (answer)

(B) Similarity

(D) Cruelty

19. Contentment :

(A) Craftiness

(B) Satisfaction (answer)

(D) Craving

20. Fiction :

(A) Imaginary

(B) Tamed

(D) Wilderness

21. Fugitive :

(A) Escaping (answer)

(B) Enduring

(D) Weak

22. Exponent :

(A) Meddler

(B) Cancel

(D) Horrid

23. Goad :

(A) Soothe

(B) Save

(D) Worship

24. Foment :

(A) Extirpate

(B) Provoke (answer)

(D) Abrasion

25. Imperceptible :

(A) Mean

(B) Obvious

(D) Subtle (answer)

Antonyms

Directions – In each of the following questions one word, a numbered one, is followed by four or five words. Choose the word or phrase that is Most Nearly Opposite in meaning of the numbered word.

1. Abstain :

(A) Hoard

(B) Tolerate

(D) Begin (answer)

2. Profusion :

(A) Aspersion

(B) Scarcity (answer)

(D) Confusion

3. Obscure :

(A) Implicit

(B) Obnoxious

(D) Pedantic

4. Repulsive :

(A) Alluring (answer)

(B) Refulgent

(D) Meek

5. Ambiguous :

(A) Auxiliary

(B) Responsible

(D) Clear (answer)

6. Attractive :

(A) Repulsive (answer)

(B) Loathsome

(D) Repugnant

(E) None

7. Rigid :

(A) Merciful

(B) Generous

(D) Tolerant

(E) None

8. Benign :

(A) Malevolent (answer)

(B) Soft

(D) Unwise

(E) None

9. Cool :

(A) Hot

(B) Warm (answer)

(D) Indifferent

(E) None

10. Genuine :

(A) Unnatural

(B) Synthetic

(D) Sham (answer)

(E) None

11. Singular :

(A) Dull

(B) Ancient

(D) Social

12. Frugal :

(A) Extravagant (answer)

(B) Rich

(D) Happy

13. Permit :

(A) Give

(B) Forbid (answer)

(D) Preserve

14. Consolidate :

(A) Weaken (answer)

(B) Expand

(D) Build

15. Trivial :

(A) Serious (answer)

(B) Intricate

(D) Dainty

16. Acquit :

(A) Retreat

(B) Convict (answer)

(D) Deprive

17. Always :

(A) Disallow

(B) Never (answer)

(D) Descend

18. Ancient :

(A) Repulsion

(B) Modern (answer)

(D) Departure

19. Bitter :

(A) Blunt

(B) Bold

(D) Sweet (answer)

20. Bright :

(A) Narrow

(B) Dull(answer)

(D) Sharp