Directions (1-10): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningfully complete.
The number of _____(1)_____ stretches in India’s rivers has _____(2)_____ to 351 from 302 two years ago, and the number of critically polluted stretches — where water quality indicators are the _____(3)_____ — has gone _____(4)_____ to 45 from 34, according to an _____(5)_____ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
While the Rs. 20,000 crore clean-up of the Ganga may be the most _____(6)_____ of the government’s efforts to _____(7)_____ pollution, the CPCB says several of the river’s stretches — in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — are _____(8)_____ far less polluted than many rivers in Maharashtra, Assam and Gujarat. These three States account for 117 of the 351 polluted river stretches.
Based on the _____(9)_____ of the National Green Tribunal, the CPCB last month _____(10)_____ the States of the extent of pollution in their rivers.
Q1.
(a) Cleaned
(b) Fore
(c) Polluted
(d) Incessant
(e) Capsized
Q2.
(a) Increased
(b)Flayed
(c)Spawned
(d)Zapped
(e)Decreased
Q3.
(a)Best
(b)Greatest
(c)Poorest
(d)Likely
(e)Plausible
Q4.
(a) Down
(b)Up
(c)Nearly
(d)However
(e)None of the above
Q5.
(a)Inundate
(b)Assessment
(c)Overload
(d)Overwhelm
(e)Indifference
Q6.
(a) Conspicuous
(b)Ambiguous
(c)Unobtrusive
(d)Obscure
(e)Secret
Q7.
(a)Complete
(b)Forget
(c)Dodge
(d)Avoid
(e)Tackle
Q8.
(a)Inadequate
(b)Unable
(c)Clandestine
(d)Actually
(e)Covert
Q9.
(a)Tussle
(b) Quarrel
(c)Squabble
(d)Dichotomy
(e)Recommendations
Q10.
(a)Borrowed
(b)Cadged
(c)Begged
(d)Apprised
(e)Scrounged
S1. Ans. (c)
Sol. The hint for the answer can be derived from the phrases ‘the number of critically polluted stretches’, ‘water quality indicators’, and ‘Central Pollution Control Board’ etc. The theme of the passage is ‘water pollution in rivers’. Among the given options, the word ‘polluted’ is the most relevant word for the given blank. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘The number of polluted stretches’.
Fore (adj.) means ‘situated or place in front’;
Incessant (adj.) means ‘(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
Capsized (adj.) means ‘(of a boat) overturned in the water’;
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. The blank would be filled by a verb, indicating the nature of change in number ‘to 351 from 302’. Among the given options, ‘increased’ and ‘decreased’ are the relevant verbs, but among them, the correct verb which correctly conveys the nature of change in the number (‘to 351 from 302 two years ago’) is ‘increased’.
The correct phrase would be ‘India’s rivers has increased to 351 from 302 two years ago’.
Flay (verb) means ‘strip the skin off (a corpse or carcass);’
Spawn (verb) means ‘(of a fish, frog, mollusc, crustacean, etc) release or deposit eggs’;
Zap (verb) means ‘to get rid of or kill something or someone especially intentionally’;
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. The blank would be filled by an adjective qualifying the noun ‘water quality indicators’.
Among the given options, the relevant adjective is option (c) ‘poorest’, and is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘water quality indicators are the poorest’.
S4. Ans. (b)
Sol. The blank would be filled by an adverb and would indicate the nature of change in the number ‘to 45 from 34’.
Among the given options, the adverb which correctly conveys the correct meaning is ‘up’.
The correct phrase would be ‘has gone up to 45 from 34’. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. The blank would be filled by a noun.
Among the given options, the relevant word which satisfies the contextual requirements imposed on the blank is ‘assessment’. Hence, the correct answer is option (b) ‘assessment’.
The correct phrase would be ‘according to an assessment.’
‘inundate’ means ‘a severe flood’;
S6. Ans. (a)
Sol. The relevant phrase seems to be ‘the most visible of the government’s efforts.’
Conspicuous means ‘visible, apparent, see able etc.’
Unobtrusive means ‘ambiguous, obscure, secret etc.’
Among the given options, ‘conspicuous’ is the correct word which would fill the blank and is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘the most conspicuous of the government’s efforts.’
S7. Ans. (e)
Sol. The blank seems to be forming a ‘to-infinitive’ with the preceding word ‘to’.
So, the blank should be filled by a verb.
Among the given options, the verb ‘tackle’ is the most relevant verb which would fill the blank and is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘efforts to tackle pollution,’
S8. Ans. (d)
Sol. The blank would be filled by an adjective.
Among the given options, ‘actually’ which means ‘truly real, existent’ is the most relevant adjective which could fill the blank and is the correct answer.
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘are actually far less polluted.’
Clandestine and covert means ‘secret.’
S9. Ans. (e)
Sol. The context of the sentence suggests that the blank would be filled by a noun.
Among the given options, ‘recommendations’ is the most relevant noun which would fill the blank and is the correct answer.
Hence, option (e) is the correct answer.
The correct phrase would be ‘Based on the recommendations of the National Green Tribunal’.
Tussle, quarrel and squabble means ‘a vigorous struggle or scuffle, typically in order to obtain or achieve something.
Dichotomy means ‘a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented or being opposed or entirely different.’
S10. Ans. (d)
Sol. The blank seems to be filled by a verb.
Apprise (verb) means ‘tell’;
Cadge (verb) means ask for or obtain, scrounge (verb) means ‘to beg’.
Among the given options, the relevant word which would fill the blank is ‘apprise’ (option(d)).
The correct phrase would be ‘the CPCB last month apprised the States.’