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TU CMAT Bachelors practice questions

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Question 1Verbal Ability

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to 'ubiquitous' as used in a CMAT reading passage about smartphones.

  1. Scarce
  2. Omnipresent Correct answer.
  3. Temporary
  4. Costly

Explanation

'Ubiquitous' means present everywhere at once, so 'omnipresent' is the closest synonym. The other options describe rarity, brevity, or expense, none of which matches the sense of widespread presence.

Question 2Verbal Ability

Select the word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'frugal' in the sentence: 'A frugal manager kept the department within budget.'

  1. Prudent
  2. Thrifty
  3. Cautious
  4. Extravagant Correct answer.

Explanation

'Frugal' means economical or sparing in spending, so its antonym is 'extravagant', meaning wasteful or lavish. 'Thrifty' and 'prudent' are near-synonyms rather than opposites, and 'cautious' describes temperament, not spending.

Question 3Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The committee reached its decision after a lengthy debate', the word 'lengthy' functions as which part of speech?

  1. Adjective Correct answer.
  2. Adverb
  3. Noun
  4. Verb

Explanation

'Lengthy' modifies the noun 'debate', describing what kind of debate it was, so it is an adjective. Adverbs typically modify verbs or adjectives, nouns name things, and verbs express actions or states.

Question 4Verbal Ability

Choose the correctly spelled word to complete: 'The auditor praised the accounts for their ______.'

  1. acuracy
  2. accuracy Correct answer.
  3. accuricy
  4. accuracey

Explanation

The noun formed from 'accurate' is 'accuracy', ending in '-acy'. The other spellings insert or substitute letters that do not appear in the standard form.

Question 5Verbal Ability

Identify the grammatically correct sentence suitable for a formal CMAT-style business report.

  1. Neither the manager nor the clerks is aware of the change.
  2. Neither the manager nor the clerks were aware of the change. Correct answer.
  3. Neither the manager or the clerks were aware of the change.
  4. Neither the manager nor the clerks was aware of the change.

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject; 'clerks' is plural, so 'were' is required. The correlative pair must also be 'neither...nor', not 'neither...or'.

Question 6Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part: 'The report was written by the intern in a hurry.'

  1. Written by the intern in a hurry was the report.
  2. The report, in a hurry, was written by the intern.
  3. In a hurry the report was written by the intern.
  4. The intern wrote the report in a hurry. Correct answer.

Explanation

Converting the passive construction to active voice places the doer ('the intern') as subject, giving a clear sentence. The other options either misplace the modifier 'in a hurry' or sound awkward for formal writing.

Question 7Verbal Ability

In the word 'benevolent', the prefix 'bene-' contributes which meaning?

  1. Against
  2. Well or good Correct answer.
  3. Before
  4. Bad

Explanation

The Latin prefix 'bene-' means 'well' or 'good', giving 'benevolent' the sense of wishing well to others. Prefixes such as 'mal-' mean bad, 'pre-' means before, and 'anti-' means against.

Question 8Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The evidence was so ______ that the jury reached a verdict within minutes.'

  1. conclusive Correct answer.
  2. superfluous
  3. ambiguous
  4. tentative

Explanation

A quick verdict implies the evidence settled the matter, which 'conclusive' conveys. 'Ambiguous' and 'tentative' suggest uncertainty, and 'superfluous' means unnecessary, none of which fits the context.

Question 9Verbal Ability

Read the short passage and choose the best inference: 'Despite the heavy rain, the volunteers continued planting saplings along the riverbank until dusk.' Which statement is best supported?

  1. The volunteers planted only a few saplings.
  2. The volunteers finished before noon.
  3. The volunteers abandoned the work because of the rain.
  4. The volunteers were committed to completing the planting. Correct answer.

Explanation

Continuing work despite heavy rain until dusk strongly implies commitment to the task. The passage states they continued, so abandoning the work and finishing early are contradicted, and no information supports the claim about quantity.

Question 10Verbal Ability

Which option best restates the sentence without changing its meaning? 'Hardly had the meeting begun when the power failed.'

  1. The power failed only after the meeting ended.
  2. The meeting began because the power failed.
  3. The meeting started long after the power failed.
  4. The meeting had barely started before the power failed. Correct answer.

Explanation

The 'hardly...when' construction means one event happened almost immediately before another. So the meeting had barely begun when the power failed, which option 0 preserves.

Question 11Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly combines the two sentences: 'She studied diligently. She topped the entrance test.'

  1. She studied diligently although she topped the entrance test.
  2. She studied diligently unless she topped the entrance test.
  3. She studied diligently, so she topped the entrance test. Correct answer.
  4. She studied diligently, but she topped the entrance test.

Explanation

The second event is a result of the first, so the conjunction 'so' correctly expresses cause and effect. 'But' and 'although' signal contrast, and 'unless' signals a condition, none of which fits the logical link.

Question 12Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'Walking along the corridor, the portrait caught my eye', what is the error?

  1. The pronoun 'my' is incorrectly used.
  2. The tense of the verb is wrong.
  3. The participial phrase has a dangling modifier. Correct answer.
  4. The article 'the' should be omitted.

Explanation

The introductory participial phrase 'walking along the corridor' should describe the subject of the main clause, but the subject is 'the portrait', which cannot walk. This is a dangling modifier that must be corrected by naming the person as subject.

Question 13Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: 'The professor's lecture was so ______ that even complex theories seemed simple to the students.'

  1. abstruse
  2. lucid Correct answer.
  3. verbose
  4. redundant

Explanation

If complex theories seemed simple, the lecture was clear, which 'lucid' means. 'Abstruse' means difficult to understand, and 'verbose' and 'redundant' refer to excessive wordiness, none of which explains the clarity.

Question 14Verbal Ability

Which sentence uses the idiom 'to bite the bullet' correctly?

  1. She bit the bullet of the apple quickly.
  2. He decided to bite the bullet and apologize for the delay. Correct answer.
  3. The team bit the bullet when the plan succeeded.
  4. They bit the bullet to celebrate their victory.

Explanation

'To bite the bullet' means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely. Apologizing for a delay fits this sense, whereas the other sentences misuse it literally or attach it to positive or irrelevant events.

Question 15Verbal Ability

Identify the sentence that is free of grammatical error for use in a CMAT essay.

  1. Each of the students has submitted his or her assignment. Correct answer.
  2. Each of the students have submitted their assignment.
  3. Each of the students have submitted his or her assignment.
  4. Each of the students has submitted their assignments.

Explanation

'Each' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'has' and the singular pronoun 'his or her'. Option 0 mismatches verb and pronoun, option 2 uses a plural verb, and option 3 mixes a singular verb with a plural pronoun and noun.

Question 16Verbal Ability

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence for a formal paragraph.

  1. The manager said, "The deadline is Friday, and left."
  2. The manager said "The deadline is Friday," and left.
  3. The manager said, "The deadline is Friday," and left. Correct answer.
  4. The manager said, "The deadline is Friday" and left.

Explanation

A comma precedes the quoted speech, the quotation is closed with a comma before the continuation, and the closing quotation mark follows the punctuation. Option 2 follows all these conventions, while the others omit or misplace punctuation.

Question 17Verbal Ability

Choose the pair of words that best completes the analogy: 'Author is to manuscript as composer is to ______.'

  1. audience
  2. orchestra
  3. instrument
  4. score Correct answer.

Explanation

An author creates a manuscript, just as a composer creates a score; the relationship is creator to created work. An orchestra performs the music, an audience listens, and an instrument is a tool, so none mirrors the creator-product link.

Question 18Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The scientist, who had spent years on the project, finally published her findings', the clause 'who had spent years on the project' is best described as:

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

Explanation

The clause begins with the relative pronoun 'who', modifies 'the scientist', and is set off by commas because it adds non-essential information. That makes it a non-restrictive relative clause rather than an independent, noun, or adverbial clause.

Question 19Verbal Ability

Read the passage and choose the best conclusion: 'Many firms now allow employees to work from home. Studies report higher productivity and lower commuting stress, yet some managers worry about weakened team cohesion.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Remote work has only benefits and no drawbacks.
  2. Remote work inevitably reduces productivity.
  3. Remote work offers measurable advantages but raises concerns about teamwork. Correct answer.
  4. Managers universally support remote work.

Explanation

The passage balances reported benefits (productivity, less stress) against a concern (weaker cohesion), so the balanced conclusion is best supported. The other options overstate or contradict what the passage states.

Question 20Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence: 'Being a rainy day, the match was postponed.'

  1. The match, being a rainy day, was postponed.
  2. A rainy day postponed the match being.
  3. Because it was a rainy day, the match was postponed. Correct answer.
  4. Being a rainy day, they postponed the match.

Explanation

The original has a dangling modifier because 'being a rainy day' cannot describe 'the match'. Rewriting with an explicit clause, 'Because it was a rainy day', removes the error and keeps the meaning.

Question 21Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes: 'Her argument was ______, resting on assumptions she never defended.'

  1. sound
  2. rigorous
  3. cogent
  4. specious Correct answer.

Explanation

An argument built on undefended assumptions is superficially plausible but flawed, which 'specious' captures. 'Cogent', 'sound', and 'rigorous' all describe strong, well-founded reasoning, contradicting the sentence.

Question 22Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'Neither the critics nor the director was satisfied with the final cut', which principle explains the choice of 'was'?

  1. The verb always takes the plural form after 'neither'.
  2. The verb agrees with the first subject, 'the critics'.
  3. 'Neither' forces a singular verb regardless of subjects.
  4. The verb agrees with the nearest subject, 'the director'. Correct answer.

Explanation

When subjects are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. Here 'the director' is nearer and singular, so 'was' is correct; this is the proximity rule.

Question 23Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence in which the word 'since' is used as a conjunction of cause rather than of time.

  1. She has lived here since 2015.
  2. It has been raining since morning.
  3. He has changed since we last met.
  4. Since the data were incomplete, the team delayed the launch. Correct answer.

Explanation

In option 1, 'since' introduces a reason ('because the data were incomplete'), functioning as a conjunction of cause. In the other sentences, 'since' marks a point in time from which something is measured.

Question 24Verbal Ability

Read the argument and identify its logical flaw: 'Every successful entrepreneur we interviewed wakes early. Therefore, waking early makes people successful.'

  1. It uses circular reasoning.
  2. It commits a straw man fallacy.
  3. It confuses correlation with causation. Correct answer.
  4. It relies on an unrepresentative sample size only.

Explanation

The argument assumes that because successful entrepreneurs share a habit, the habit causes success, which confuses correlation with causation. A shared trait among successful people does not prove that the trait produces success.

Question 25Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion to make the sentence logically consistent: 'No sooner had the results been announced when the students began to celebrate.'

  1. announced, when the students began
  2. announced than the students began Correct answer.
  3. announced then the students began
  4. announced so the students began

Explanation

The fixed correlative construction is 'no sooner...than', not 'no sooner...when'. Therefore 'than' is required to introduce the second event, and the other connectors break the idiom or the logic.

Question 26Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part to make the sentence grammatically correct: 'Scarcely had the bell rung when the students _____ the classroom.'

  1. were leaving
  2. left Correct answer.
  3. had left
  4. have left

Explanation

In negative inversion constructions with 'scarcely...when', the main clause uses simple past tense because the two actions are sequential and both completed in the past. The auxiliary 'had' already appears before the subject in the first clause, so the second clause takes the plain past form 'left'.

Question 27Verbal Ability

In the word 'circumspect', the prefix 'circum-' contributes which meaning?

  1. against
  2. before
  3. within
  4. around Correct answer.

Explanation

The Latin prefix 'circum-' means 'around', as seen in words like 'circumference' and 'circumnavigate'. In 'circumspect', it combines with 'spect' (to look) to convey looking around carefully.

Question 28Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The professor's explanation was so ______ that even the most complex theories became accessible to the students.'

  1. ambiguous
  2. lucid Correct answer.
  3. abstruse
  4. esoteric

Explanation

The sentence states that complex theories became accessible, which implies the explanation was clear and easy to understand. 'Lucid' means clear and intelligible, fitting the context perfectly.

Question 29Verbal Ability

Read the short passage and choose the best inference: 'The company's profits have risen steadily since it adopted a four-day workweek. Employee satisfaction scores have also improved, and absenteeism has dropped significantly.'

  1. The company will soon revert to a five-day workweek.
  2. Employee satisfaction is unrelated to working hours.
  3. The four-day workweek may have contributed to both higher profits and better employee morale. Correct answer.
  4. Absenteeism increased because of the four-day workweek.

Explanation

The passage presents a correlation between the adoption of a four-day workweek and improvements in profits, satisfaction, and absenteeism. The most reasonable inference is that the shorter workweek may have positively influenced these outcomes, though causation is not definitively proven.

Question 30Verbal Ability

Which option best restates the sentence without changing its meaning? 'The committee approved the proposal only after extensive revisions were made.'

  1. The committee approved the proposal because extensive revisions were made.
  2. The committee approved the proposal, but only after it had been extensively revised. Correct answer.
  3. The committee approved the proposal without any revisions.
  4. The committee approved the proposal before extensive revisions were made.

Explanation

The original sentence indicates that approval came after revisions. Option 0 preserves this temporal sequence and the condition that revisions were necessary for approval.

Question 31Verbal Ability

Choose the option that correctly combines the two sentences: 'The research was groundbreaking. It was also controversial.'

  1. The research was groundbreaking, because it was controversial.
  2. The research was groundbreaking, albeit controversial. Correct answer.
  3. The research was groundbreaking, therefore controversial.
  4. The research was groundbreaking, so it was controversial.

Explanation

The two ideas are in contrast: the research was both innovative and controversial. 'Albeit' is a conjunction meaning 'although' and correctly introduces a concessive element.

Question 32Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'Having finished the experiment, the results were analyzed by the team', what is the error?

  1. Tense inconsistency
  2. Dangling modifier Correct answer.
  3. Subject-verb agreement
  4. Pronoun reference

Explanation

The introductory participial phrase 'Having finished the experiment' should modify the subject of the main clause. However, the main clause subject is 'the results', which cannot finish an experiment. This creates a dangling modifier.

Question 33Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: 'The CEO's speech was so ______ that many employees left the auditorium feeling uninspired and confused.'

  1. perspicuous
  2. concise
  3. eloquent
  4. verbose Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence indicates the speech had a negative effect, leaving employees uninspired and confused. 'Verbose' means using more words than needed, often leading to confusion or boredom, which fits the context.

Question 34Verbal Ability

Which sentence uses the idiom 'to turn a blind eye' correctly?

  1. The manager turned a blind eye to the report, reading it carefully before the meeting.
  2. The manager turned a blind eye to the budget, increasing it significantly.
  3. The manager turned a blind eye to the safety violations, allowing them to continue unchecked. Correct answer.
  4. The manager turned a blind eye to the new policy, implementing it immediately.

Explanation

'To turn a blind eye' means to deliberately ignore something wrong or problematic. Only option 0 uses it in this sense, with the manager ignoring safety violations.

Question 35Verbal Ability

Choose the pair of words that best completes the analogy: 'Painter is to canvas as sculptor is to ______.'

  1. chisel
  2. marble Correct answer.
  3. gallery
  4. easel

Explanation

A painter creates art on a canvas, which is the surface or material used. Similarly, a sculptor creates art from marble, the material used. The relationship is artist to medium.

Question 36Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The hypothesis, which had been tested extensively, was finally accepted', the clause 'which had been tested extensively' is:

  1. Noun clause
  2. Restrictive relative clause
  3. Adverb clause
  4. Non-restrictive relative clause Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas and provides additional, non-essential information about the hypothesis. Therefore, it is a non-restrictive relative clause.

Question 37Verbal Ability

Read the passage and choose the best conclusion: 'Many companies now allow employees to work from home. Studies report higher productivity and lower turnover among remote workers. However, some managers worry that remote work weakens team cohesion.'

  1. Remote work inevitably leads to lower productivity.
  2. Remote work is universally beneficial and should be adopted by all companies.
  3. Remote work offers measurable benefits but may pose challenges for team cohesion. Correct answer.
  4. Team cohesion is unimportant for company success.

Explanation

The passage presents both positive outcomes (higher productivity, lower turnover) and a concern (weakened team cohesion). The best conclusion balances these points.

Question 38Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence: 'Walking through the museum, the artifacts impressed the visitors.'

  1. Walking through the museum, the artifacts were impressive to the visitors.
  2. Walking through the museum, the visitors impressed the artifacts.
  3. Walking through the museum, the visitors were impressed by the artifacts. Correct answer.
  4. Walking through the museum, the artifacts impressed the visitors greatly.

Explanation

The introductory phrase 'Walking through the museum' should modify 'the visitors', not 'the artifacts'. Option 0 correctly makes 'the visitors' the subject of the main clause.

Question 39Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence in which the word 'while' is used as a conjunction of contrast rather than of time.

  1. While I was studying, the power went out.
  2. While the audience waited, the curtain rose.
  3. While she was cooking, the phone rang.
  4. While the proposal has merits, it also has significant drawbacks. Correct answer.

Explanation

In option 0, 'while' introduces a contrasting idea (merits vs. drawbacks) and can be replaced by 'although'. In the other options, 'while' indicates simultaneous duration.

Question 40Verbal Ability

Read the argument and identify its logical flaw: 'Every successful entrepreneur we interviewed wakes up early. Therefore, waking up early is the key to entrepreneurial success.'

  1. Ad hominem attack
  2. Hasty generalization from a biased sample Correct answer.
  3. Circular reasoning
  4. False dilemma

Explanation

The argument draws a broad conclusion from a small, possibly unrepresentative sample of entrepreneurs who were interviewed. This is a hasty generalization.

Question 41Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion to make the sentence logically consistent: 'No sooner had the teacher entered the room than the students ______ silent.'

  1. have fallen
  2. were falling
  3. fell Correct answer.
  4. had fallen

Explanation

In the 'no sooner...than' construction, the main clause typically uses simple past tense to indicate an immediate sequential action. 'Fell' correctly completes the sentence.

Question 42Verbal Ability

Which word is the antonym of 'ephemeral'?

  1. Permanent Correct answer.
  2. Transient
  3. Fleeting
  4. Momentary

Explanation

'Ephemeral' means lasting for a very short time. Its antonym is 'permanent', meaning lasting or enduring.

Question 43Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The scientist who discovered the vaccine won a prestigious award', the clause 'who discovered the vaccine' is:

  1. Restrictive relative clause Correct answer.
  2. Participial phrase
  3. Non-restrictive relative clause
  4. Appositive phrase

Explanation

The clause 'who discovered the vaccine' is essential to identify which scientist is meant, and it is not set off by commas. Therefore, it is a restrictive relative clause.

Question 44Verbal Ability

Choose the option that best restates the sentence without changing its meaning: 'The manager insisted that the report be submitted by noon.'

  1. The manager demanded submission of the report by noon. Correct answer.
  2. The manager hoped the report would be submitted by noon.
  3. The manager asked if the report could be submitted by noon.
  4. The manager suggested that the report might be submitted by noon.

Explanation

The original sentence uses 'insisted' to convey a strong demand. Option 0 uses 'demanded', which preserves the mandatory tone.

Question 45Verbal Ability

Identify the sentence that contains a metaphor.

  1. The CEO's speech, which was a beacon of hope, inspired the employees.
  2. The CEO's speech was as inspiring as a beacon of hope.
  3. The CEO's speech was like a beacon of hope for the struggling employees.
  4. The CEO's speech was a beacon of hope for the struggling employees. Correct answer.

Explanation

A metaphor directly states that one thing is another without using 'like' or 'as'. Option 0 equates the speech with a beacon of hope, which is a metaphor.

Question 46Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The judge's decision was ______, based on a careful review of all the evidence presented.'

  1. capricious
  2. judicious Correct answer.
  3. impulsive
  4. arbitrary

Explanation

The phrase 'based on a careful review' indicates the decision was wise and well-considered. 'Judicious' means showing good judgment, which fits perfectly.

Question 47Verbal Ability

Read the argument and identify its logical flaw: 'If we allow students to use smartphones in class, they will inevitably become distracted and their grades will plummet. Therefore, we must ban smartphones entirely.'

  1. False analogy
  2. Slippery slope Correct answer.
  3. Straw man
  4. Appeal to authority

Explanation

The argument assumes that allowing smartphones will lead to a chain of negative outcomes without providing evidence for the inevitability of that progression. This is a slippery slope fallacy.

Question 48Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The professor, along with her research assistants, is attending the conference,' the verb 'is' agrees with which subject?

  1. her research assistants
  2. conference
  3. The professor Correct answer.
  4. The professor and her research assistants

Explanation

The phrase 'along with her research assistants' is a parenthetical addition and does not change the number of the subject. The true subject is 'The professor,' which is singular, so the singular verb 'is' is correct. Phrases like 'along with,' 'as well as,' and 'together with' do not create a compound subject.

Question 49Verbal Ability

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

  1. The experiment failed; however, the team learned valuable lessons. Correct answer.
  2. The experiment failed; however the team learned valuable lessons.
  3. The experiment failed; and the team learned valuable lessons.
  4. The experiment failed; the team, however, learned valuable lessons.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses, and when a conjunctive adverb like 'however' connects them, it should be followed by a comma. Option 1 correctly places the semicolon before 'however' and the comma after it. The other options either omit the comma after 'however', use a coordinating conjunction after the semicolon, or create a different punctuation structure that is not standard.

Question 50Verbal Ability

Read the argument and identify its logical flaw: 'All the top-performing students in our school use the new study app. Therefore, using the app will make you a top-performing student.'

  1. It attacks the character of those who do not use the app.
  2. It assumes that because top students use the app, the app causes them to become top students. Correct answer.
  3. It confuses a necessary condition with a sufficient condition.
  4. It generalizes from a sample that is too small to be representative.

Explanation

The argument observes a correlation between using the app and being a top student, then concludes that using the app will cause you to become a top student. This reverses the direction of causation without evidence. The flaw is treating a possible effect (or mere association) as the cause.