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SRCC GBO practice questions

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Question 1English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The auditor's report was so ______ that even the finance team needed a second reading to grasp its conclusion.

  1. redundant
  2. cursory
  3. opaque Correct answer.
  4. lucid

Explanation

The clause 'even the finance team needed a second reading' signals difficulty in understanding, so the blank needs a word meaning unclear or hard to follow. 'Opaque' means not transparent or difficult to understand, which fits the cause-effect logic.

Question 2English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error: 'Neither the branch managers (A) nor the regional head (B) were willing to sign (C) the revised compliance document (D).'

  1. C Correct answer.
  2. B
  3. D
  4. A

Explanation

With a 'neither...nor' construction, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. The nearer subject is 'the regional head', which is singular, so the verb should be 'was', not 'were'.

Question 3English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which word is closest in meaning to 'frugal' as used in a business context?

  1. generous
  2. lavish
  3. thrifty Correct answer.
  4. wasteful

Explanation

'Frugal' describes careful, economical use of resources, especially money. 'Thrifty' carries exactly that sense of prudent saving without implying meanness.

Question 4English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the correctly spelled word to fill the blank: The company's growth strategy was described as ______, expanding into three new markets within a year.

  1. ambitious Correct answer.
  2. ambiteous
  3. ambitous
  4. ambishous

Explanation

The adjective is spelled 'ambitious', derived from 'ambition' with the '-ous' suffix. Only the first option follows standard English spelling.

Question 5English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The committee reached a decision after a marathon session', the word 'marathon' functions as:

  1. a preposition
  2. a verb
  3. an adjective Correct answer.
  4. a conjunction

Explanation

Here 'marathon' modifies the noun 'session', describing its length, so it works as an attributive adjective. It is not the subject or predicate of the clause.

Question 6English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase to make the sentence concise: 'Due to the fact that the shipment was delayed, the client cancelled the order.'

  1. Because Correct answer.
  2. In spite of the fact that
  3. On account of the fact that
  4. Owing to the fact that

Explanation

'Due to the fact that' is a wordy way of saying 'because'. Replacing it with the single conjunction 'Because' preserves the causal meaning and improves concision.

Question 7English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Identify the sentence that uses the apostrophe correctly in a business context.

  1. The manager's decision affected all the employees'.
  2. The manager's decision affected all the employees. Correct answer.
  3. The managers' decision affected all the employee's.
  4. The managers decision affected all the employees.

Explanation

A singular possessor takes an apostrophe before the 's', giving 'manager's', while the plural 'employees' needs no apostrophe because it is not possessive. This option applies both rules correctly.

Question 8English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'transient'?

  1. fleeting
  2. temporary
  3. permanent Correct answer.
  4. momentary

Explanation

'Transient' means lasting only a short time, so its antonym must mean lasting or enduring. 'Permanent' expresses exactly that opposite sense.

Question 9English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The new policy was introduced to ______ the risk of fraud in online transactions.

  1. aggravate
  2. duplicate
  3. postpone
  4. mitigate Correct answer.

Explanation

A policy aimed at risk of fraud is intended to reduce that risk. 'Mitigate' means to make less severe or reduce, which fits the purpose expressed.

Question 10English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the short passage and answer the question. 'Despite record revenues, the firm's net profit fell sharply last quarter. Analysts attributed the decline to rising input costs and a one-time charge for restructuring.' Which statement is best supported by the passage?

  1. Rising costs and a one-time charge reduced profitability. Correct answer.
  2. The restructuring charge increased net profit.
  3. Analysts expected revenues to fall in the next quarter.
  4. The firm's revenues declined alongside its profit.

Explanation

The passage states that revenues were record-high but profit fell, and it attributes the fall to rising input costs and a one-time restructuring charge. That directly supports the claim that these factors reduced profitability.

Question 11English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence: By the time the auditors arrive next week, the finance team ______ all the ledgers.

  1. reconciles
  2. will have reconciled Correct answer.
  3. will reconcile
  4. has reconciled

Explanation

The phrase 'by the time...arrive next week' sets a deadline in the future by which an action will already be complete. The future perfect 'will have reconciled' expresses completion before that future point.

Question 12English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Identify the sentence in which the modifier is placed correctly.

  1. Walking into the office, the report lay on the desk.
  2. Walking into the office, the manager saw the report on the desk. Correct answer.
  3. Walking into the office, the report was on the manager's desk.
  4. Walking into the office, the desk held the report.

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence must modify the subject that follows it. Only in this option is the manager, the person who can walk, the subject of the main clause.

Question 13English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: The negotiator remained ______ throughout the talks, refusing to reveal her position or concede any ground.

  1. candid
  2. guarded Correct answer.
  3. transparent
  4. impulsive

Explanation

Refusing to reveal a position implies caution and concealment. 'Guarded' means cautious and reserved, matching the behaviour described.

Question 14English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which sentence correctly uses the semicolon?

  1. The report was thorough; but it lacked a conclusion.
  2. The report was thorough; it lacked a conclusion. Correct answer.
  3. The report; was thorough and lacked a conclusion.
  4. The report was thorough; and lacked a conclusion.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses that are closely related without a coordinating conjunction. This option places it correctly between two complete clauses.

Question 15English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the pair of words that best completes the analogy: 'Arbitrator is to dispute as mediator is to ______.'

  1. contract
  2. conflict Correct answer.
  3. verdict
  4. agreement

Explanation

An arbitrator handles a dispute, just as a mediator handles a conflict; the relationship is professional to the situation they address. 'Conflict' preserves that same relationship.

Question 16English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion to correct the sentence: 'Each of the employees have submitted their timesheet on time.'

  1. have submitted his or her
  2. has submitted his or her Correct answer.
  3. has submitted there
  4. have submitted their

Explanation

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so the verb must be singular ('has') and the pronoun singular ('his or her'). This option supplies both correctly.

Question 17English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The start-up's founder argued that rapid expansion, while risky, was necessary to capture market share before larger competitors entered. Investors, however, urged caution, noting that cash reserves were thin.' Which best captures the tension described?

  1. The founder favoured speed while investors worried about financial safety. Correct answer.
  2. Both the founder and investors favoured rapid expansion.
  3. The founder and investors agreed that competitors posed no threat.
  4. Investors wanted expansion and the founder wanted caution.

Explanation

The founder advocated rapid expansion for market share, whereas investors urged caution because cash reserves were thin. This option accurately frames the disagreement over speed versus financial safety.

Question 18English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The proposal was rejected as ______, since it repeated points already covered by the earlier report.

  1. ambiguous
  2. superfluous Correct answer.
  3. essential
  4. innovative

Explanation

The clause explains that the proposal repeated points already covered, so it was unnecessary. 'Superfluous' means more than is needed, which matches that reasoning.

Question 19English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The consultant, who had reviewed the accounts, recommended cutting costs', the clause 'who had reviewed the accounts' is:

  1. an adverbial clause of time
  2. a non-restrictive relative clause Correct answer.
  3. a restrictive relative clause
  4. a noun clause acting as subject

Explanation

The clause is introduced by 'who' and modifies 'the consultant'. It is set off by commas, which marks it as non-restrictive, adding extra information rather than identifying which consultant.

Question 20English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct and free of redundancy.

  1. The two companies have agreed to collaborate. Correct answer.
  2. The two companies have mutually agreed to collaborate together jointly.
  3. The two companies have mutually agreed to collaborate together.
  4. The two companies has agreed to collaborate.

Explanation

'Mutually', 'together' and 'jointly' all repeat the idea already contained in 'collaborate' and 'two companies', so the concise version is best. It also keeps the plural verb 'have' with the plural subject.

Question 21English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'Although the merger was announced as a strategic partnership, critics noted that the acquiring firm had quietly sold off several of its own divisions in the preceding months. They argued that the deal was less about growth than about consolidating control.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. The acquiring firm was expanding aggressively into new markets.
  2. The merger was universally welcomed by industry observers.
  3. The acquiring firm had no financial difficulties before the merger.
  4. The critics doubted the stated rationale for the merger. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage says critics argued the deal was 'less about growth than about consolidating control', which directly shows they doubted the stated strategic rationale. That inference follows from the evidence given.

Question 22English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best completes the sentence with correct parallelism: The job requires the candidate to analyse data, prepare reports, and ______.

  1. findings presented to clients
  2. to presenting findings to clients
  3. present findings to clients Correct answer.
  4. presenting findings to clients

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. The first two items are base-form verbs ('analyse', 'prepare'), so the third must also be a base-form verb, 'present'.

Question 23English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The regulator's guidance was deliberately worded in broad terms. Firms that sought a precise checklist were disappointed, but the ambiguity allowed supervisors to adapt requirements to institutions of very different sizes.' The author's attitude toward the guidance is best described as:

  1. cautiously approving Correct answer.
  2. openly hostile
  3. completely indifferent
  4. strongly enthusiastic

Explanation

The author acknowledges disappointment among some firms but explains a benefit of the ambiguity, namely flexibility for supervisors. This balanced stance, recognising both a drawback and an advantage, is best described as cautiously approving.

Question 24English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly rewrites the sentence in the passive voice: 'The compliance team flagged several irregularities during the audit.'

  1. Several irregularities were flagged by the compliance team during the audit. Correct answer.
  2. Several irregularities flagged the compliance team during the audit.
  3. The compliance team was flagged by several irregularities during the audit.
  4. Several irregularities have flagged during the audit by the compliance team.

Explanation

To convert to passive voice, the object 'several irregularities' becomes the subject, the verb becomes 'were flagged', and the original subject appears in a 'by' phrase. This option applies all three steps correctly.

Question 25English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'Economists often treat consumer confidence as a leading indicator, yet the relationship is not mechanical. Confidence may rise on expectations that later prove unfounded, and spending may stall even when surveys are upbeat.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Spending always falls when confidence rises.
  2. Consumer confidence reliably predicts future spending.
  3. Surveys of confidence should be abandoned entirely.
  4. Confidence and spending are related but not deterministically linked. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage calls confidence a leading indicator but stresses that the relationship is 'not mechanical' and gives examples of divergence. This supports a related-but-not-deterministic link rather than a strict rule.

Question 26English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The board approved the budget after the treasurer had revised it', the tense of 'had revised' signals that the revision occurred:

  1. at the same moment as the approval
  2. only if the approval is conditional
  3. before the approval Correct answer.
  4. after the approval

Explanation

The past perfect ('had revised') marks an action completed before another past action ('approved'). The sequence is therefore revision first, approval second, which is the standard function of the past perfect in reported business narratives.

Question 27English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The auditor's report was ______, listing every discrepancy without softening the language.'

  1. compliant
  2. cursory
  3. candid Correct answer.
  4. cryptic

Explanation

'Candid' means frank and direct, which matches a report that lists discrepancies without softening language. The clause after the comma defines the missing quality, so the word must mean straightforwardness rather than vagueness or brevity.

Question 28English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which sentence uses the colon correctly in a professional report?

  1. The committee reached: one conclusion that the merger should be delayed.
  2. The committee reached one conclusion: and the merger should be delayed.
  3. The committee reached one conclusion, that is: the merger should be delayed.
  4. The committee reached one conclusion: the merger should be delayed. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon may follow a complete clause and introduce an explanation, list, or restatement. In the keyed sentence the clause before the colon is grammatically complete and what follows explains it.

Question 29English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part to remove wordiness: 'The manager made a decision to postpone the meeting on account of the fact that key members were absent.'

  1. decided to postpone the meeting because key members were absent Correct answer.
  2. took a decision of postponing the meeting owing to key members' absence being a fact
  3. made the decision that the meeting be postponed in view of the fact of absence
  4. made a decision to postpone the meeting due to the fact of key members being absent

Explanation

Concise business prose converts nominalisations such as 'made a decision' into the verb 'decided' and replaces 'on account of the fact that' with 'because'. The keyed version preserves the meaning while cutting redundant phrasing.

Question 30English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'frugal' as used to describe a company's spending?

  1. extravagant Correct answer.
  2. thrifty
  3. modest
  4. prudent

Explanation

'Frugal' means economical or sparing in expenditure, so its antonym is 'extravagant', meaning wasteful or excessive in spending. The other options are near-synonyms of frugal rather than opposites.

Question 31English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the finance manager nor the auditors ______ willing to sign off on the draft accounts.'

  1. is
  2. were Correct answer.
  3. was
  4. has been

Explanation

With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural 'auditors'. The sentence is set in past time, so the plural past form 'were' is required.

Question 32English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Identify the function of the underlined word in the sentence: 'The board appointed her chairperson of the audit committee.'

  1. direct object
  2. object complement Correct answer.
  3. indirect object
  4. subject complement

Explanation

'Chairperson' describes the object 'her' after the verb 'appointed', so it functions as an object complement. A subject complement would describe the subject, and a direct object would be the thing appointed.

Question 33English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: 'The two departments agreed to ______ their resources so that the audit could be completed on time.'

  1. pooling
  2. be pooling
  3. have pooled
  4. pool Correct answer.

Explanation

After the infinitive marker 'to', the base form of the verb is required, so 'pool' is correct. The meaning, combining resources for a shared purpose, also fits the audit context.

Question 34English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The firm's new expense policy was announced on Monday. By Friday, three regional offices had requested clarification, and two had filed formal objections.' Which statement is best supported by the passage?

  1. All regional offices welcomed the policy without comment
  2. The policy applied only to the head office
  3. The policy was withdrawn after objections from regional offices
  4. The policy prompted immediate questions and resistance from some offices Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage reports requests for clarification and formal objections within days, which supports the inference of immediate questions and resistance. Nothing in the text mentions withdrawal, universal approval, or a head-office-only scope.

Question 35English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best combines the two sentences without losing meaning: 'The proposal was detailed. It failed to address the cost implications.'

  1. The proposal was detailed, and it failed to address the cost implications.
  2. The proposal was detailed; therefore, it failed to address the cost implications.
  3. Although the proposal was detailed, it failed to address the cost implications. Correct answer.
  4. The proposal was detailed because it failed to address the cost implications.

Explanation

The relationship between the two ideas is contrast, so a concessive connector such as 'although' captures it precisely. The keyed sentence preserves both facts and marks the opposition between detail and omission.

Question 36English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The report that the auditor submitted was challenged by the board', the clause 'that the auditor submitted' is:

  1. a restrictive relative clause Correct answer.
  2. a non-restrictive relative clause
  3. an adverbial clause of reason
  4. an appositive clause

Explanation

The clause identifies which report is meant and is not set off by commas, so it is restrictive. Appositive clauses typically follow nouns such as 'fact' or 'belief' and do not modify the noun in this identifying way.

Question 37English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the correct word: 'The new compliance rules are ______ complex that staff need a two-day workshop to understand them.'

  1. very
  2. too
  3. so Correct answer.
  4. such

Explanation

The pattern 'so + adjective + that' expresses degree leading to a result. 'Such' would require a noun phrase, as in 'such complex rules that'.

Question 38English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the pair that best completes the analogy: 'Audit is to verification as forecast is to ______.'

  1. correction
  2. documentation
  3. regulation
  4. prediction Correct answer.

Explanation

An audit is a process whose purpose is verification, just as a forecast is a process whose purpose is prediction. The relationship is between an activity and its core function.

Question 39English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Which sentence is free of ambiguity?

  1. Telling the analyst, the manager said her figures were wrong.
  2. The manager told the analyst that the analyst's figures were wrong. Correct answer.
  3. The manager told the analyst her figures were wrong.
  4. The manager told the analyst that her figures were wrong.

Explanation

The pronoun 'her' in the other versions can refer to either the manager or the analyst, creating ambiguity. Replacing the pronoun with the explicit noun 'the analyst's' removes the uncertainty.

Question 40English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The bank reported strong loan growth, but its provisions for bad debts rose even faster. Analysts noted that the growth had been concentrated in unsecured lending.' What is the analysts' concern?

  1. That secured lending has grown too quickly
  2. That the bank has stopped lending altogether
  3. That provisions for bad debts have fallen
  4. That the loan growth carries elevated credit risk Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage links faster-rising bad-debt provisions to growth concentrated in unsecured lending, which supports concern about credit risk. The other options contradict details in the text.

Question 41English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence in the subjunctive: 'The committee recommended that the chief financial officer ______ the findings in person.'

  1. presented
  2. presents
  3. present Correct answer.
  4. is presenting

Explanation

Verbs of recommendation such as 'recommend that' take the mandative subjunctive, which uses the base form of the verb regardless of the subject. Hence 'present' is correct after 'the chief financial officer'.

Question 42English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'reticent' as applied to a spokesperson.

  1. guarded
  2. forthcoming Correct answer.
  3. taciturn
  4. reserved

Explanation

'Reticent' means reluctant to speak freely, so its antonym is 'forthcoming', meaning willing to give information. The other options are synonyms or near-synonyms of reticent.

Question 43English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Identify the sentence in which the participle phrase is correctly attached to its intended subject.

  1. Having reviewed the accounts, it was the auditor's concerns that arose.
  2. Having reviewed the accounts, the concerns of the auditor were three.
  3. Having reviewed the accounts, the auditor raised three concerns. Correct answer.
  4. Having reviewed the accounts, three concerns were raised by the auditor.

Explanation

A participle phrase at the start of a sentence must modify the subject of the main clause. Only in the keyed sentence does the subject 'the auditor' perform the reviewing.

Question 44English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined phrase to make the sentence formal and precise: 'The firm is planning to cut costs big time before the year ends.'

  1. make big cuts in a big way
  2. do a big cost cut
  3. substantially reduce costs Correct answer.
  4. cut costs big time

Explanation

Formal business writing replaces colloquial intensifiers such as 'big time' with precise adverbs like 'substantially'. The keyed version also converts the vague verb 'cut' into 'reduce', which suits a written register.

Question 45English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'Critics of the new tariff argue that it protects domestic producers at the expense of consumers. Supporters counter that without it, strategic industries would collapse and jobs would be lost.' Which best captures the structure of the argument?

  1. A trade-off between consumer costs and industrial protection Correct answer.
  2. A consensus that tariffs benefit everyone
  3. A claim that consumers gain most from tariffs
  4. A rejection of the idea that jobs matter

Explanation

The passage sets consumer costs against protection of strategic industries and jobs, which is a trade-off. Neither side claims universal benefit, and no participant dismisses jobs.

Question 46English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly rewrites the sentence in the passive voice: 'The regulator imposed heavy penalties on the bank.'

  1. Heavy penalties imposed on the bank by the regulator.
  2. The bank imposed heavy penalties on the regulator.
  3. Heavy penalties were imposed on the bank by the regulator. Correct answer.
  4. Heavy penalties had imposed the bank by the regulator.

Explanation

The passive requires the object 'heavy penalties' to become the subject, the verb to take 'be + past participle', and the original subject to appear in a 'by' phrase. Only the keyed sentence follows all three steps.

Question 47English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The consultant's report was praised for its thoroughness. However, its recommendations were so general that managers could not act on them.' The passage suggests that the report was:

  1. brief and superficial throughout
  2. rejected because of factual errors
  3. inaccurate in its data but useful in practice
  4. detailed in analysis but weak in practical guidance Correct answer.

Explanation

Praise for thoroughness indicates detailed analysis, while recommendations too general to act on indicate weak practical guidance. The passage mentions no factual errors or superficiality.

Question 48English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'What surprised the auditors was the speed of the collapse', the subject of the main verb 'was' is:

  1. 'the auditors'
  2. the nominal clause 'What surprised the auditors' Correct answer.
  3. 'the collapse'
  4. 'the speed'

Explanation

The subject is the entire nominal clause 'What surprised the auditors', which the verb 'was' then equates with 'the speed of the collapse'. Recognising the clause as subject prevents misidentifying the noun that follows the verb.

Question 49English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The start-up reported a 40% rise in revenue, yet its gross margin fell from 60% to 45%. Management attributed the decline to aggressive discounting aimed at winning market share.' Which inference is most reasonable?

  1. Growth was purchased partly by sacrificing profitability per unit Correct answer.
  2. The discounting strategy failed to raise revenue
  3. Gross margin and revenue always move together
  4. The company's costs of production fell sharply

Explanation

Falling gross margin alongside rising revenue, attributed to discounting, implies that sales growth came at the cost of per-unit profitability. The passage gives no evidence that production costs fell or that revenue stagnated.

Question 50English Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best resolves the faulty parallelism: 'The role requires reviewing accounts, to prepare reports, and the analysis of risks.'

  1. reviewing accounts, preparing reports, and analysing risks Correct answer.
  2. to review accounts, to prepare reports, and the analysis of risks
  3. reviewing accounts, preparation of reports, and to analyse risks
  4. review accounts, preparing reports, and risk analysis

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form; here all three should be gerund phrases. The keyed version makes every item a gerund plus object, which restores parallelism.