Communication Ability: Grammar, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
Communication Ability is Section C: 50 one-mark questions. It covers vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutes, idioms), functional grammar, reading comprehension, and business and computer terminology. The section rewards precision, not long reading.
Grammar high-yield rules
Subject–verb agreement is tested through collectives and quantifiers: 'the number of' takes a singular verb, 'a number of' takes a plural verb. Prepositions follow fixed patterns (agree with, differ from, capable of). Articles depend on sound, not spelling: 'an hour', 'a university'. In sentence correction, compare the original with each option and reject any that changes meaning.
Reading comprehension
Read the question stems first, then locate the relevant lines. Correct answers are supported by the passage, not by outside knowledge. Eliminate options with absolute words such as 'always' or 'never' unless the passage states them.
Vocabulary and terminology
Learn idioms as units ('break the ice', 'in the nick of time'), not word by word. Business terms include invoice, ledger, debit, credit, revenue, and e-commerce; computer terms include browser, URL, server, and database.
Worked example
'The number of applicants ___ increased sharply.' The subject is 'the number', singular, so the verb is 'has': 'The number of applicants has increased sharply.' By contrast, 'A number of applicants have applied' is plural.
Traps
Choosing a synonym with the wrong register or part of speech; answering RC from general knowledge; confusing 'the number of' with 'a number of'; missing a preposition after a verb.