Fill in the blanks - Previous Year CAT/MBA Questions
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Read the following statement carefully and fill up the blanks from the given options.
As _________evolved and eventually moved to cities, close proximity ____________how we viewed and assessed each_________.
- (a)
generations, changed, other
- (b)
people, helped, nation
- (c)
lives, destroyed, culture
- (d)
culture, helped, life
- (e)
civilization, enhanced, situation
Workspace:
Read the following statement carefully.
___________like a fake can be a sign of___________, and clinging too tightly to what feels like one’s authentic self can ________that growth.
Fill in the blanks meaningfully, in the above statement, from the following options.
- (a)
operating, smartness, increase
- (b)
performing, stupidity, change
- (c)
feeling, growth, hinder
- (d)
behaving, improvement, support
- (e)
acting, progress, enhance
Workspace:
Carefully read the following statement:
When I ask people to name three recently implemented technologies that most impact our world today, they usually propose the computers, the Internet and the laser. All three were unplanned, ___________, and_____________ upon their discovery and remained __________ well after their initial use.
Which of the following options will BEST fill up the above blanks meaningfully?
- (a)
Unpredicted, Unappreciated, Unappreciated
- (b)
Amazing, Shocking, Shocking
- (c)
Surprising, Fulfilling, Unfulfilling
- (d)
Astonishing, Amazing, Amazing
- (e)
Astonishing, Superb, Superb
Answer: Option A
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Text Explanation :
The context of the given paragraph describes that discoveries are unplanned. The words unpredicted and unappreciated are in line with unplanned and are appropriate in the given context. All other adjectives in the given options don't take the idea of unplanned discoveries forward.
Answer is option A.
Workspace:
Read the following statement:
While start-ups have__________ reach, _____ they introduce ________ products, they open-up ________ markets.
Fill in the blanks meaningfully, in the above statement, from the following options.
- (a)
Limited, since, new, innovative
- (b)
Restricted, while, innovative, new
- (c)
Restricted, when, new, innovative
- (d)
Limited, when, innovative, new
- (e)
Limited, if, new, innovative
Workspace:
Carefully read the paragraph below:
A map is a useful metaphor for our brain when talking about _______ because at its most basic level our brain __________to be our atlas of sorts, a system of routes _______to navigate us toward just one destination: staying alive!
From the options below, choose the set that MOST appropriately fills up the blanks.
- (a)
Perception, evolved, designed
- (b)
Understanding, progressed, shaped
- (c)
Connections, changed, molded
- (d)
Design, developed, shaped
- (e)
Comprehension, metamorphosed, designed
Answer: Option A
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Text Explanation :
The first blank needs a word that means "the way it is understood" so from the options it can be either perception, understanding or comprehension. In the second blank, the word we require is one that means develop, but as it concerns the human brain, it will make more sense to use the word evolve (gradually develop).
Hence, option (a).
Workspace:
Carefully read the paragraph below:
__________, medicine has been operated by trial and error, in other words, __________. We know by now that there can be entirely_________ connections between symptoms and treatment, and some medications succeed in medical trials for mere random reasons.
From the options below, choose the one that MOST appropriately fills up the blanks.
- (a)
Formerly, randomly, accidental
- (b)
Traditionally, analytically, casual
- (c)
Initially, statistically, unexpected
- (d)
Periodically, logically, arbitrary
- (e)
Historically, arbitrarily, fortuitous
Answer: Option E
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Text Explanation :
The first blank requires a word that refers to the events of the past; the best-suited word is "historically".
In the second blank, we need a word that goes with the idea of random choices; here, both "random" and "arbitrarily" are well suited.
The third blank requires a word that means by chance or luck, "fortuitous" is the best fit here.
Hence, option (e).
Workspace:
In 1942, the French writer Albert Camus composed an essay, ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. It draws on the Greek fable of a man condemned to roll a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back down under its own weight, a ______ that lasts for eternity. Camus argues that this image ______ the human condition in a world where we can no longer make sense of events; but instead of committing suicide, we should ______ ourselves to this ‘elusive feeling of absurdity’ and bear it as best we can. In this sense, Sisyphus is the ideal hero.
Consider the following words:
- surrender
- choice
- symbolises
- quandary
- attune
- option
- reconcile
- depicts
Which of the following options is the most appropriate sequence that best fits the blanks in the above paragraph?
- (a)
4, 2, 6
- (b)
4, 3, 7
- (c)
2, 3, 1
- (d)
4, 5, 1
- (e)
2, 5, 7
Answer: Option B
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Text Explanation :
As per the paragraph, even though the rock rolls back down the mountain under its own weight, Sisyphus is condemned to roll it back up. Thus only ‘quandary’ which means ‘a circumstance that presents problems difficult to solve’ or ‘dilemma’ correctly fits the first blank. Camus is comparing this image of the rolling stone with that of the human condition in this world – so it’s like a metaphor. Thus ‘symbolises’ which means ‘represent in the manner of symbol’ correctly fits the second blank. ‘Depicts’ which means ‘represents by drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.’ is incorrect in the second blank. Camus further maintains that we should accept this feeling of absurdity and continue to live in the best way we can. Thus ‘reconcile’ which means ‘to accept or be resigned to something not desired’ correctly fits the third blank. Thus the correct sequence is – 4, 3, 7.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Read the following statements carefully:
The payoff from ________ in education is so ______ and _______ that it is almost ________ as a predictor of economic change over a five to ten year period.
Fill in the blanks meaningfully, in the above statement, from the following options.
- (a)
Expenditure, small, insignificant, irrelevant
- (b)
Productivity, small, erratic, useless
- (c)
Expenditure, fast, significant, powerful
- (d)
Investment, slow, erratic, useless
- (e)
Investment, slow, predictable, irrelevant
Answer: Option D
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Text Explanation :
The first three options are eliminated as payoff is usually derived from “investment” and not “expenditure” or “productivity”. If the payoff is “slow and predictable”, it cannot be an irrelevant predictor of economic change. Thus, [5] is eliminated. Also, if data is “erratic”, meaning “inconsistent” or “uncertain”, it is useless in predicting anything.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Read the following paragraph carefully and answer the question that follows:
The Lannisters had ______ gold than the Tyrells until the Lannister army sacked Highgarden and took the Tyrell fortune to pay back the Iron Bank. On the other hand, the Northern army has
______ than 10,000 men and therefore, Jon needs to bend the knee to Daenerys. What happens in the story next is dependent on George R. Martin, the writer of the series. For ______, he has not written anything further and we hope George R. Martin will get around to finishing the book _______. But as it happens, ________, book releases are delayed.
Fill in the blanks meaningfully, in the above paragraph, from the following options.
- (a)
less, fewer, some time, sometime, sometimes
- (b)
fewer, less, sometime, some time, sometimes
- (c)
less, fewer, sometime, some time, sometimes
- (d)
fewer, less, sometimes, sometime, some time
- (e)
fewer, less, some time, sometime, sometimes
Answer: Option A
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Text Explanation :
According to the rules of usage, “fewer” is used when discussing countable things, while “less” is used for singular mass nouns. For example, you can have fewer ingredients, dollars, people, or puppies, but less salt, money, honesty, or gold. Had the first blank been followed by “grams of gold”, “fewer” would have been an appropriate choice. Thus, [1] and [3] are to be retained. In the third blank, we have to choose between “sometime” and “some time”. “Sometime” means “at some point” or “former”. “Some time” means “a period of time”. From the sentence, it is clear that George R. Martin has not worked on the book for “some time”. Thus, [1] is the only option remaining with us. Similarly, in the fourth blank, “sometime” is the most appropriate.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.
Workspace:
The serious study of popular films by critics is regularly credited with having rendered obsolete a once-dominant view that popular mainstream films are inherently inferior to art films. Yet the change of attitude may be somewhat _________ Although, it is now academically respectable to analyse popular films, the fact that many critics feel compelled to rationalize their own _________ action movies or mass-market fiction reveals, perhaps unwittingly, their continued _________ the old hierarchy of popular and art films.
Consider the following words:
- unproductive
- not appreciated
- overstated
- penchant for
- dislike for
- investment in
- exposure to
Which of the following options is the most appropriate sequence that would meaningfully fit the blanks in the above paragraph?
- (a)
1, 5, 6
- (b)
3, 2, 7
- (c)
3, 4, 6
- (d)
4, 5, 6
- (e)
6, 3, 1
Answer: Option C
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Text Explanation :
The second sentence/line in the passage can be completed by either “unproductive” or “overstated”. But the following sentence (third) questions the perception of change of attitudes contained in the second sentence/line. The serious study of popular films by critics implies that the critics are compelled to rationalize their ―”penchant for” and hence, 3 will be followed by 4. By rationalizing their penchant for popular films, they unwittingly reveal their continued investment in the categorization of popular and art films. Hence, the appropriate sequence of words should start with 3 follow it with 4 and then by 6.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option that follows:
Peter has suggested to me that the _____________ of highly systematic and _____________ planning techniques may have led to a substantial _____________ in firms’ notions of what is likely to happen in the future, and thus to a _____________ in the incidence of mistakes, especially on the part of the _____________modern corporations.
- (a)
progressive development, exact, decline, decrease, tiny
- (b)
progress deterioration, exact, increase, decrease, tiny
- (c)
progressive development, precise, improvement, reduction, large
- (d)
progressive deterioration, precise, increase, decrease, large
- (e)
gradual growth, exact, increase, decline, large
Answer: Option C
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Text Explanation :
“Exact” does not make for a favourable adjective as far as describing the “planning techniques” is concerned. This eliminates options 1, 2 and 5.
Between options 3 and 4, the nouns “improvement” and “reduction” make for a better fit with the “firms' notions” and “incidents of mistakes”. “Increase in firms' notions” does not make sense logically.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option that follows:
Clinical practitioners _____________ integrated mindfulness _____________ treatment of _____________ host of emotional and behavioural disorders, _____________ borderline personality disorder, major depression, chronic pain, or eating disorders. Number of such practitioners _____________ increased substantially.
- (a)
have, in the, a, but, such
- (b)
have, in the, the, like, have
- (c)
were, for, a, like, has
- (d)
have, for, a, like, has
- (e)
could, in the, the, such as, have
Answer: Option D
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Text Explanation :
The plural verb “have” makes for the most grammatically correct fit for the first blank from the options given. This eliminates options 3 and 5.
The verb in the last blank must attribute to the singular subject “number” and not “practitioners”. Thus, the correct verb to use is “has”. Eliminate options 1 and 2.
Integration of “mindfulness” therefore, has to be “for” the “treatment of a host of emotional and behavioral disorders.”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option that follows:
Ontologies are _____________ equated with taxonomic hierarchies of classes, class definitions, and _____________ subsumption relation, _____________ ontologies need not be limited to _____________ forms.
- (a)
often, a, but, such
- (b)
often, the, yet, such
- (c)
frequently, a, yet, such
- (d)
often, a, yet, these
- (e)
often, the, but, these
Answer: Option E
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Text Explanation :
The “subsumption relation” refers to a definite entity. Hence, it must take the definite article “the”. This eliminates options 1, 3 and 4.
A demonstrative pronoun is required to attribute to the forms of “hierarchies of classes, class definitions and the subsumption relation”. Thus, the correct pronoun to use would be “these”. Eliminate option 2 with “such”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 5.
Workspace:
It _____________ not look like a great deal today, but back then it was a coup: no man before ___________ to import tea directly into Ireland.
The option that will best fill the blanks in the above sentences would be:
- (a)
may, has dared
- (b)
may, had dared
- (c)
might, have dared
- (d)
might, have ever dared
- (e)
may, ever dared
Answer: Option B
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Text Explanation :
Options 1, 3 and 4 use the present tense whereas the sentence clearly requires a past tense, indicated by ‘but back then’. Option 5 with “ever”, meaning ‘at all times; always’ becomes erroneous as it is placed after the word “before”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate word/set of words from the given options.
The head ___________ was annoyed to see a _________ in the soup.
The option that would best fill the blanks in the above sentence would be:
- (a)
chief, house fly
- (b)
chef, housefly
- (c)
chief, house-fly
- (d)
chef, house fly
- (e)
chef, house-fly
Answer: Option B
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Text Explanation :
The sentence talks about seeing a fly in a soup. This is of major concern to a chef. Hence, options 1 and 3 are ruled out. The word housefly is not hyphenated and a space in between house and fly changes the meaning of the sentence.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.
Workspace:
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate word/set of words from the given options.
Not wanting to present an unwanted optimistic picture in the board meeting, the CEO estimated the sales growth _____________.
The option that will best fill the blank in the above sentence would be:
- (a)
strictly
- (b)
liberally
- (c)
fancifully
- (d)
pessimistically
- (e)
conservatively
Answer: Option E
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Text Explanation :
The CEO did not want to give a rosy picture of the sales growth nor would a strict or pessimistic picture help in motivating the team. “Conservatively” fits in well in this context. It means ‘cautiously or moderately’.
Hence, the correct answer is option 5.
Workspace:
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