In the last few articles (here and here), we looked at verbal questions from previous CAT papers. Let’s do the same for vocabulary questions.
CAT 2014 didn’t have any vocabulary questions and the trend appears to be continuing with the official mock having no questions on verbal. However, one can always expect a surprise in CAT especially with IIM-A conducting the exam this year. Hence, it is useful to have a look at these questions as well.
The best way to prepare for vocabulary, with CAT less than a month away, is to look at all questions from this topic asked in previous papers. Let’s solve at questions based on word usage today. Try solving the questions first before looking at the answers.
Directions for questions: In each of the questions, a word has been used in sentences in five different ways. Choose the option corresponding to the sentence in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.
Q.1. Run (CAT 2008)
1. I must run fast to catch up with him.
2. Our team scored a goal against the run of play.
3. You can’t run over him like that.
4. The newly released book is enjoying a popular run.
5. This film is a run-of-the-mill production.
Q.2. Round (CAT 2008)
1. The police fired a round of tear gas shells.
2. The shop is located round the corner.
3. We took a ride on the merry-go-round.
4. The doctor is on a hospital round.
5. I shall proceed further only after you come round to admitting it.
Q.3. Buckle (CAT 2008)
1. After the long hike our knees were beginning to buckle.
2. The horse suddenly broke into a buckle.
3. The accused did not buckle under police interrogation.
4. Sometimes, an earthquake can make a bridge buckle.
5. People should learn to buckle up as soon as they get into a car.
Q.4. File (CAT 2008)
1. You will find the paper in the file under C.
2. I need to file an insurance claim.
3. The cadets were marching in a single file.
4. File your nails before you apply nail polish.
5. When the parade was on, a soldier broke the file.
Q.5. Hand (CAT 2005)
1. I have my hand full, I cannot do it today.
2. The minister visited the jail to see the breach at first hand.
3. The situation is getting out of hand here!
4. When the roof of my house was blown away, he was willing to lend me a hand.
Q.6. Near (CAT 2005)
1. I got there just after you left – a near miss!
2. She and her near friend left early.
3. The war led to a near doubling of oil prices.
4. They came near to tears seeing the plight of the victims
Q.7. Bolt (CAT 2004)
1. The shopkeeper showed us a bolt of fine silk.
2. As he could not move, he made a bolt for the gate.
3. Could you please bolt the door?
4. The thief was arrested before he could bolt from the scene of the crime.
Q.8. Passing (CAT 2004)
1. She did not have passing marks in mathematics.
2. The mad woman was cursing everybody passing her on the road.
3. At the birthday party all the children enjoyed a game of passing the parcel.
4. A passing taxi was stopped to rush the accident victim to the hospital.
Q.9. Fallout (CAT 2004)
1. Nagasaki suffered from the fallout of nuclear radiation.
2. People believed that the political fallout of the scandal would be insignificant.
3. Who can predict the environmental fallout of the WTO agreements?
4. The headmaster could not understand the fallout of several of his good students at the public examination.
Q.10. Bundle (CAT 2003)
1 The newborn baby was a bundle of joy for the family.
2 Mobile operators are offering a bundle of additional benefits.
3 He made a bundle in the share market.
4 It was sheer luck that brought a bundle of boy-scouts to where I was lying wounded.
Answers:
Q.1. Run (CAT 2008)
1. I must run fast to catch up with him.
2. Our team scored a goal against the run of play.
3. You can’t run over him like that.
4. The newly released book is enjoying a popular run.
5. This film is a run-of-the-mill production.
Answer:
Sentence 1: The usage of run in this sentence is the regular way in which we use it in our daily speech. This option is correct.
Sentence 2: ‘against the run of play’ means contrary to the flow of the game. The usage here is correct.
Sentence 3: run over is usually used in the context of knocking down someone especially with a vehicle. Hence, the use of run here is incorrect.
Sentence 4: ‘enjoying a popular run’ means that the book is in demand right now. Hence, this sentence is correct.
Sentence 5: ‘run-of-the-mill’ means ordinary. The use is correct in the sentence.
Q.2. Round (CAT 2008)
1. The police fired a round of tear gas shells.
2. The shop is located round the corner.
3. We took a ride on the merry-go-round.
4. The doctor is on a hospital round.
5. I shall proceed further only after you come round to admitting it.
Answer:
Sentence 1: A round in this context is one/many tear gas shells. The usage is correct.
Sentence 2: ‘Round the corner’ means nearby. Hence, this sentence is correct.
Sentence 3: A merry-go-round is an amusement ride usually found in parks. Hence, this is correct.
Sentence 4: In this case, round means ‘going from one place to another in a habitual manner’. Hence, the usage here is correct.
Sentence 5: In this sentence, the correct phrase should have been ‘come around to admitting it’ instead of ‘come round’. ‘Come around’ means changing one’s opinion which is what the author is trying to convey in the sentence. Hence, this sentence is incorrect.
Q.3. Buckle (CAT 2008)
1. After the long hike our knees were beginning to buckle.
2. The horse suddenly broke into a buckle.
3. The accused did not buckle under police interrogation.
4. Sometimes, an earthquake can make a bridge buckle.
5. People should learn to buckle up as soon as they get into a car.
Answer:
Sentence 1: ‘Knees beginning to buckle’ means that the knees were beginning to collapse/give way.
Sentence 2: ‘broke into a buckle’ doesn’t make sense. The horse broke into a trot/gallop makes more sense here. Hence, this sentence is incorrect.
Sentence 3: Here, the sentence implies that the accused did not give in to police pressure. Hence, the use of buckle is correct in this sentence.
Sentence 4: The meaning of buckle in this sentence is the same as in sentence 1.
Sentence 5: Here, ‘buckle’ means fastening seatbelts in the car. Hence, this sentence is correct.
Q.4. File (CAT 2008)
1. You will find the paper in the file under C.
2. I need to file an insurance claim.
3. The cadets were marching in a single file.
4. File your nails before you apply nail polish.
5. When the parade was on, a soldier broke the file.
Answer:
Sentence 1: In this sentence, file means the physical file in which papers are kept. Hence, the use is correct.
Sentence 2: Filing in this case means lodging the claim. The usage is correct.
Sentence 3: ‘Single file’ means ‘people standing one behind another’. This sentence is correct.
Sentence 4: File in this sentence implies trim. This sentence is correct.
Sentence 5: The use of file is incorrect. The sentence should instead read ‘a soldier broke the ranks’. Hence, this sentence is incorrect.
Q.5. Hand (CAT 2005)
1. I have my hand full, I cannot do it today.
2. The minister visited the jail to see the breach at first hand.
3. The situation is getting out of hand here!
4. When the roof of my house was blown away, he was willing to lend me a hand.
Answer:
Sentence 1: The correct phrase should be “have my hands full” which means ‘busy’. Hence, this sentence is incorrect.
Sentence 2: ‘At first hand’ means directly. In this sentence, the minister wanted to see the breach himself without hearing about it from someone else.
Sentence 3: ‘Out of hand’ means ‘out of control’. The usage is correct here.
Sentence 4: ‘lend me a hand’ is to help. This sentence is correct.
Try out the following examples and post your answers in the comments below:
Q.6. Near (CAT 2005)
1. I got there just after you left – a near miss!
2. She and her near friend left early.
3. The war led to a near doubling of oil prices.
4. They came near to tears seeing the plight of the victims
Q.7. Bolt (CAT 2004)
1. The shopkeeper showed us a bolt of fine silk.
2. As he could not move, he made a bolt for the gate.
3. Could you please bolt the door?
4. The thief was arrested before he could bolt from the scene of the crime.
Q.8. Passing (CAT 2004)
1. She did not have passing marks in mathematics.
2. The mad woman was cursing everybody passing her on the road.
3. At the birthday party all the children enjoyed a game of passing the parcel.
4. A passing taxi was stopped to rush the accident victim to the hospital.
Q.9. Fallout (CAT 2004)
1. Nagasaki suffered from the fallout of nuclear radiation.
2. People believed that the political fallout of the scandal would be insignificant.
3. Who can predict the environmental fallout of the WTO agreements?
4. The headmaster could not understand the fallout of several of his good students at the public examination.
Q.10. Bundle (CAT 2003)
1 The newborn baby was a bundle of joy for the family.
2 Mobile operators are offering a bundle of additional benefits.
3 He made a bundle in the share market.
4 It was sheer luck that brought a bundle of boy-scouts to where I was lying wounded.
