English Questions: Fill in the Blanks 55

Directions (1-10): Pick out the most appropriate pair of words to complete the given sentences.

1. The Congress won by smaller margins in a vast swathe of rural Gujarat, where there is a __ agrarian distress; as for the BJP, its relatively bigger wins in urban pockets were insufficient to convert its decent lead in overall vote share into a __ number of seats.
   equivocal, counter
   palpable, commensurate
   ethereal, lopsided
   disguised, contrast
   None of these
     Option B
   Explanation: palpable = (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible; commensurate = corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
   
2. Despite the big win, the party faced the __ of seeing its chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal, lose to his Congress__.
   decency, confederate
   plaudit, accomplice
   ignominy, rival
   eulogy, supporter
   None of these
      Option C
   Explanation: ignominy = public shame or disgrace; rival = a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity.
   
3. Two crimes ended in death sentences for the principal perpetrators last week — one __in the way it sought to uphold caste pride and the other an __ instance of sexual violence against women.
   trippy, palatable
   accurate, delectable
   emblematic, abominable
   genuine, pleasant

   None of these

     Option C
   Explanation: emblematic = serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic; abominable =  causing moral revulsion
   
4. The Tirupur trial will be remembered for Ms. Kausalya’s courageous__, as an eyewitness and the survivor of a murderous attack, and as one with an intimate knowledge of her family’s __ towards her slain husband.
   coronation, regard
   deposition, antipathy
   ascent, esteem
   accession, alacrity
   None of these
     Option B
   Explanation: deposition = the action of deposing someone, especially a monarch; antipathy = a deep-seated feeling of aversion
   
5. Trial courts appear to be under pressure to be seen as __ and unwavering, resulting in their reflexively __ the death penalty.
   ruthless, awarding
   gentle, retrieving
   mild, disallowing
   benignant, denying
   None of these
     Option A
   Explanation: ruthless = having or showing no pity or compassion for others.; awarding = give or order the giving of (something) as an official payment, compensation, or prize to (someone).
   
6. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has managed only a __ victory in Gujarat, confirming some earlier __ predictions and ground reports of a close electoral contest.
   slut, psephological
   modest, psephological
   sassy, psephological
   smug, psephological
   None of these
      Option B
   Explanation: modest = unassuming in the estimation of one’s abilities or achievements.
   
7. We believe that it is quite obviously Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaigning, which was for the most part controversial and__, that played a role in turning a section of voters towards the BJP, thus saving it from a possible__.
   meant, crush
   divisive, defeat
   bickering, lose
   according, aid
   None of these
      Option B
   Explanation: divisive = tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people; defeat = win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat.
   
8. While our post-poll also suggests an increase in Muslim votes for the BJP compared to last time, at the same time it also points to a __of Hindu votes behind the party in Assembly seats where the Muslim population is much higher than__.
   dissolution, atypical
   consolidation, average
   severance, extreme
   dispersal, bizzare
   None of these
     Option B
   Explanation: consolidation = the action or process of making something stronger or more solid;
   
9.  Winning the trust and confidence of a __ of voters election after election is no mean achievement, and there’s no doubt the BJP should be __ for this.
   majority, derided
   majority, castigate
   majority, blamed
   majority, commended
   None of these
      Option D
   Explanation: commended = praise formally or officially.
   
10. The Mirai botnet __ affected 2.5 million home __ users and other Internet of Things devices.
    programme, surrender
    malware, router
    utility, defeat
    application, liner
    None of these
      Option B
    Explanation: malware = software which is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain authorized access to a computer system; a device which forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.