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CSE-PPT Professional practice questions

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Question 1Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The committee reached a decision after a long and ______ debate.

  1. heats
  2. heating
  3. heated Correct answer.
  4. heat

Explanation

The blank sits between the conjunction 'and' and the noun 'debate', so it needs an adjective describing the debate. 'Heated' functions as an adjective meaning intense or impassioned, which fits the context of a long argument.

Question 2Verbal Ability

Identify the synonym of the underlined word: The manager's remarks were so ambiguous that the staff left the meeting confused.

  1. lengthy
  2. frequent
  3. harsh
  4. unclear Correct answer.

Explanation

'Ambiguous' means open to more than one interpretation, which is why the staff were confused. The synonym must capture that uncertainty of meaning, and 'unclear' does so directly.

Question 3Verbal Ability

Choose the antonym of the word 'frugal'.

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

Explanation

'Frugal' means economical or sparing in spending. Its antonym must denote wasteful or lavish spending, which 'extravagant' expresses.

Question 4Verbal Ability

Choose the correct word: The new policy will ______ all employees equally.

  1. effect
  2. defect
  3. affect Correct answer.
  4. infect

Explanation

'Affect' is a verb meaning to influence or act upon something, which fits the sentence's need for an action applied to employees. 'Effect' as a verb means to bring about, which does not fit the meaning here.

Question 5Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.

  1. Each of the students were submitted the report.
  2. Each of the students has submitted the report. Correct answer.
  3. Each of the students have submitted the report.
  4. Each of the students are submitting the report.

Explanation

The subject 'each' is singular, and the phrase 'of the students' does not change that. The verb must therefore be singular, so 'has submitted' is correct.

Question 6Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: She spoke ______ enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

  1. loud
  2. loudness
  3. loudly Correct answer.
  4. aloud

Explanation

The blank modifies the verb 'spoke', so an adverb is required. 'Loudly' is the adverb form describing the manner of speaking.

Question 7Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'The old bridge, which was built in 1920, collapsed last week,' the underlined clause 'which was built in 1920' is best described as:

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

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas and adds extra information about an already identified noun, so it is nonrestrictive. It does not define which bridge, and it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Question 8Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Book is to library as painting is to ______.

  1. canvas
  2. museum Correct answer.
  3. brush
  4. artist

Explanation

A library is a place where books are kept and displayed for public access. Following the same relationship, a museum is a place where paintings are kept and displayed.

Question 9Verbal Ability

Choose the best word: The witness gave a ______ account of the incident, leaving out no important detail.

  1. comprehensive Correct answer.
  2. cursory
  3. reluctant
  4. vague

Explanation

The second half of the sentence says no important detail was left out, so the account was thorough. 'Comprehensive' means complete and covering all relevant points.

Question 10Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that uses the correct pronoun case.

  1. Between you and I, the plan seems risky.
  2. Between we, the plan seems risky.
  3. Between you and me, the plan seems risky. Correct answer.
  4. Between yourself and I, the plan seems risky.

Explanation

Prepositions such as 'between' take object pronouns. 'Me' is the object form, while 'I' is a subject form and cannot follow a preposition.

Question 11Verbal Ability

Identify the meaning of the idiom in this sentence: After the audit, the manager decided to come clean about the missing funds.

  1. to confess the truth Correct answer.
  2. to wash thoroughly
  3. to resign quietly
  4. to arrive early

Explanation

'Come clean' is an idiom meaning to admit or confess something previously concealed. The context of missing funds supports the meaning of revealing the truth.

Question 12Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The scientist's findings were ______ by three independent laboratories, strengthening confidence in the results.

  1. corroborated Correct answer.
  2. contradicted
  3. criticized
  4. concealed

Explanation

The phrase 'strengthening confidence' signals that the other laboratories supported the findings. 'Corroborated' means confirmed or supported by additional evidence.

Question 13Verbal Ability

Choose the correct form: Neither the supervisor nor the workers ______ aware of the schedule change.

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

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. The nearer subject is 'workers', which is plural, so the plural verb 'were' is correct.

Question 14Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly.

  1. We visited three cities - Manila; Cebu; and Davao.
  2. We visited three cities; Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
  3. We visited three cities, Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
  4. We visited three cities: Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon correctly introduces a list that follows an independent clause. Commas then separate the items within the list.

Question 15Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: Despite the ______ evidence, the jury remained unconvinced.

  1. fabricated
  2. meager
  3. compelling Correct answer.
  4. irrelevant

Explanation

The contrast signaled by 'despite' means the evidence was strong yet the jury was still unconvinced. 'Compelling' means convincing and persuasive, creating that contrast.

Question 16Verbal Ability

Which word is closest in meaning to 'meticulous'?

  1. careless
  2. hasty
  3. generous
  4. painstaking Correct answer.

Explanation

'Meticulous' describes someone who shows great attention to detail. 'Painstaking' likewise means careful and thorough, making it the closest synonym.

Question 17Verbal Ability

Choose the best revision of the sentence to remove the dangling modifier: 'Walking down the street, the tall building impressed the tourists.'

  1. Walking down the street, the tall building was impressive to the tourists.
  2. Impressed by the tall building, the street was walked by the tourists.
  3. The tall building, walking down the street, impressed the tourists.
  4. Walking down the street, the tourists were impressed by the tall building. Correct answer.

Explanation

A participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. In the original, the building appears to be walking, so the subject must be changed to 'the tourists', who are doing the walking.

Question 18Verbal Ability

Identify the figure of speech: 'The wind whispered secrets through the trees.'

  1. personification Correct answer.
  2. simile
  3. oxymoron
  4. hyperbole

Explanation

Personification gives human qualities to nonhuman things. Whispering secrets is a human action attributed to the wind, which is the defining feature here.

Question 19Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The proposal was rejected not because it was flawed but because it was ______.

  1. premature Correct answer.
  2. approved
  3. detailed
  4. brilliant

Explanation

The parallel structure 'not because... but because' sets up a contrast with 'flawed'. The second reason must be a different kind of defect, and 'premature' (too early) supplies that.

Question 20Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'who' or 'whom'.

  1. The candidate whom will start on Monday was selected.
  2. The candidate who the board selected will start on Monday.
  3. The candidate whom the board selected will start on Monday. Correct answer.
  4. The candidate who selected the board will start on Monday.

Explanation

'Whom' is the object form and is correct when the pronoun is the object of the verb 'selected'. The board is the subject doing the selecting.

Question 21Verbal Ability

In the sentence 'Hardly had the bell rung when the students rushed out,' the use of 'hardly' requires which structure?

  1. a passive verb
  2. inverted subject and auxiliary Correct answer.
  3. a comparative adjective
  4. a following infinitive

Explanation

When a negative or restrictive adverb like 'hardly' begins a clause, standard formal English inverts the subject and auxiliary verb. Hence 'had the bell rung' rather than 'the bell had rung'.

Question 22Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: The senator's speech was so ______ that even his opponents found themselves nodding in agreement.

  1. tentative
  2. verbose
  3. monotonous
  4. persuasive Correct answer.

Explanation

The result clause shows that opponents were moved to agree, so the speech must have been convincing. 'Persuasive' captures that power to convince.

Question 23Verbal Ability

Identify the error in this sentence: 'The reason the project failed is because the team lacked coordination.'

  1. 'Lacked' should be 'lacking'.
  2. 'Because' is redundant after 'the reason is'. Correct answer.
  3. 'Coordination' should be 'coordinated'.
  4. 'Failed' should be 'fails'.

Explanation

The construction 'the reason is because' is redundant because 'the reason is' already introduces the cause. Standard usage prefers 'the reason is that' or simply 'because'.

Question 24Verbal Ability

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

  1. Since you are here, you might as well help.
  2. Since he was tired, he went to bed early.
  3. Since the rain stopped, we have been able to work outside. Correct answer.
  4. Since she forgot her keys, she waited outside.

Explanation

As a conjunction of time, 'since' means 'from the time that' and typically pairs with a present perfect main clause. Only the first option uses 'since' in this temporal sense.

Question 25Verbal Ability

Choose the best word: The philosopher argued that moral truths are not absolute but ______, varying with cultural context.

  1. objective
  2. immutable
  3. universal
  4. relative Correct answer.

Explanation

The contrast with 'absolute' and the phrase 'varying with cultural context' point to truths that depend on circumstance. 'Relative' means dependent on context or relation to something else.

Question 26Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: The documentary was praised for its ______ treatment of a complex political scandal, covering every angle without oversimplifying.

  1. hasty
  2. shallow
  3. nuanced Correct answer.
  4. biased

Explanation

'Nuanced' means showing subtle distinctions and careful attention to complexity, which matches praise for covering every angle without oversimplifying. The other choices all imply a lack of care or balance, contradicting the positive framing.

Question 27Verbal Ability

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to 'frugal.'

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

Explanation

'Frugal' describes someone who is economical and avoids unnecessary spending, which is the meaning of 'thrifty.' The remaining options describe either the opposite behavior or an unrelated quality.

Question 28Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The volunteers worked ______ through the night to distribute relief goods before sunrise.

  1. briefly
  2. reluctantly
  3. tirelessly Correct answer.
  4. carelessly

Explanation

'Tirelessly' means without becoming exhausted, which fits volunteers working all night to finish before sunrise. The other adverbs either suggest unwillingness, negligence, or a short duration that contradicts 'through the night.'

Question 29Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Surgeon is to scalpel as carpenter is to ______.

  1. hammer Correct answer.
  2. house
  3. blueprint
  4. wood

Explanation

The relationship is between a worker and the characteristic tool of the trade: a surgeon uses a scalpel, and a carpenter uses a hammer. The other choices are materials or products of the work rather than the defining tool.

Question 30Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that uses correct subject-verb agreement.

  1. The bouquet of roses smells wonderful. Correct answer.
  2. The bouquet of roses smell wonderful.
  3. The bouquet of roses have smelled wonderful.
  4. The bouquet of roses were smelling wonderful.

Explanation

The subject is 'bouquet,' a singular noun; the phrase 'of roses' is a prepositional modifier and does not change the number of the subject. A singular subject takes the singular verb 'smells.'

Question 31Verbal Ability

Identify the meaning of the idiom in this sentence: When asked about the leaked memo, the director decided to spill the beans.

  1. To refuse to comment
  2. To organize a meeting
  3. To reveal secret information Correct answer.
  4. To make a careless mistake

Explanation

'Spill the beans' is an idiom meaning to disclose information that was meant to be kept secret. In context, the director is about to reveal details about the leaked memo.

Question 32Verbal Ability

Choose the correct form: Each of the applicants ______ required to submit two recommendation letters.

  1. are
  2. is Correct answer.
  3. were
  4. have been

Explanation

The subject 'each' is singular, and the phrase 'of the applicants' does not change that. A singular subject requires the singular verb 'is.'

Question 33Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: The committee's report was so ______ that readers needed a glossary to understand even the first page.

  1. concise
  2. abstruse Correct answer.
  3. lucid
  4. vivid

Explanation

'Abstruse' means difficult to understand, which explains why readers needed a glossary. The other adjectives describe writing that is clear, brief, or lively, none of which would require a glossary.

Question 34Verbal Ability

Choose the best revision to correct the faulty parallelism: 'The internship taught her to manage deadlines, to communicate clearly, and how to resolve conflicts.'

  1. The internship taught her how to manage deadlines, to communicate clearly, and resolving conflicts.
  2. The internship taught her to manage deadlines, to communicate clearly, and to resolve conflicts. Correct answer.
  3. The internship taught her managing deadlines, to communicate clearly, and resolving conflicts.
  4. The internship taught her to manage deadlines, communicating clearly, and how to resolve conflicts.

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. Using 'to manage,' 'to communicate,' and 'to resolve' makes all three infinitive phrases parallel.

Question 35Verbal Ability

Identify the figure of speech: 'The deadline was a mountain that no one on the team could climb.'

  1. Simile
  2. Metaphor Correct answer.
  3. Hyperbole
  4. Personification

Explanation

A metaphor states that one thing is another without using 'like' or 'as,' as when the deadline is called a mountain. A simile would require an explicit comparison word.

Question 36Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The new policy was intended to ______ the backlog of pending cases rather than add to it.

  1. perpetuate
  2. complicate
  3. alleviate Correct answer.
  4. aggravate

Explanation

'Alleviate' means to relieve or make less severe, which fits reducing a backlog. The contrast with 'rather than add to it' confirms that the policy is meant to lessen the problem.

Question 37Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence in which the pronoun reference is clear and correct.

  1. When the manager met the clerk, they said the report was late.
  2. The manager told the clerk that the report was late. Correct answer.
  3. The manager met the clerk, and she said it was late.
  4. When the manager met the clerk, she said the report was late.

Explanation

The pronoun 'she' or 'it' is ambiguous when two people or things could be its antecedent. Replacing the pronoun with the noun 'the report' removes the ambiguity entirely.

Question 38Verbal Ability

Choose the best word: The witness's testimony was ______, contradicting itself twice within the same hour.

  1. incoherent Correct answer.
  2. verifiable
  3. meticulous
  4. consistent

Explanation

'Incoherent' describes speech that is internally inconsistent and hard to follow, which matches testimony that contradicts itself. The other adjectives describe reliable, careful, or checkable accounts.

Question 39Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Ephemeral is to permanence as ______ is to certainty.

  1. doubt Correct answer.
  2. conviction
  3. clarity
  4. evidence

Explanation

The relationship is one of opposition: 'ephemeral' is the opposite of 'permanence,' so the missing word must be the opposite of 'certainty,' which is 'doubt.' The other choices are not antonyms of certainty.

Question 40Verbal Ability

Choose the best revision of the sentence to eliminate wordiness: 'Due to the fact that the weather was inclement in nature, the outdoor program was cancelled.'

  1. Due to the fact of bad weather, the outdoor program was cancelled.
  2. Owing to the inclement nature of the weather, the program was cancelled outdoors.
  3. Because the weather was bad, the outdoor program was cancelled. Correct answer.
  4. The outdoor program was cancelled due to the fact of inclement weather.

Explanation

Wordy phrases such as 'due to the fact that' and redundant expressions such as 'inclement in nature' can be replaced with concise equivalents. 'Because' and 'bad' convey the same meaning in fewer words.

Question 41Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that uses the correct verb tense sequence in reported speech.

  1. She said that she would finish the report the next day. Correct answer.
  2. She said that she is finishing the report the next day.
  3. She said that she finishes the report the next day.
  4. She said that she will finish the report the next day.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past ('said'), the verb in the reported clause conventionally shifts to a past form, so 'will' becomes 'would.' The time expression 'the next day' also signals a backshifted report.

Question 42Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best fits: The judge's ruling was ______: it settled the dispute so completely that neither party could reasonably appeal.

  1. definitive Correct answer.
  2. provisional
  3. tentative
  4. ambiguous

Explanation

'Definitive' means conclusive and final, which matches a ruling that leaves no room for appeal. The other adjectives suggest uncertainty or open-endedness, contradicting the outcome described.

Question 43Verbal Ability

Identify the error in this sentence: 'The company's profits have rose steadily since the new management took over.'

  1. 'company's' should be 'companies'
  2. 'have rose' should be 'have risen' Correct answer.
  3. 'took over' should be 'taken over'
  4. 'steadily' should be 'steady'

Explanation

The present perfect requires the past participle, and the participle of 'rise' is 'risen,' not the simple past 'rose.' The auxiliary 'have' must be followed by the participle form.

Question 44Verbal Ability

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

  1. While the soup simmered, she set the table.
  2. While the band played, the guests danced.
  3. While walking home, he noticed the broken streetlight.
  4. While I agree with your premise, I question your conclusion. Correct answer.

Explanation

'While' can mark either simultaneous time or contrast. In 'While I agree..., I question...,' it signals concession or contrast between two ideas, not two simultaneous actions.

Question 45Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the subjunctive mood.

  1. The board recommended that the director resigns immediately.
  2. The board recommended that the director is resigning immediately.
  3. The board recommended that the director resign immediately. Correct answer.
  4. The board recommended that the director will resign immediately.

Explanation

Verbs of demand, recommendation, or insistence followed by 'that' take the base form of the verb in the subjunctive mood, regardless of the subject. Thus 'resign,' not 'resigns,' is correct.

Question 46Verbal Ability

Choose the best word: The essayist's prose is admired for its ______; she conveys complex ideas in remarkably few words.

  1. verbosity
  2. ambiguity
  3. brevity Correct answer.
  4. redundancy

Explanation

'Brevity' means shortness of expression, which matches conveying complex ideas in few words. The other nouns describe excessive length or lack of clarity, contradicting the praise.

Question 47Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that correctly avoids a misplaced modifier.

  1. Covered in dust, the archivist carefully restored the ancient manuscript.
  2. Covered in dust, the ancient manuscript was carefully restored by the archivist. Correct answer.
  3. Carefully restored, the archivist worked on the ancient manuscript covered in dust.
  4. The archivist carefully restored the ancient manuscript covered in dust.

Explanation

A participial phrase must modify the noun it is placed next to. In the correct version, 'covered in dust' directly modifies 'the ancient manuscript,' the thing actually covered in dust.

Question 48Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that uses a semicolon correctly.

  1. The results were inconclusive; however the team planned further trials.
  2. The results were inconclusive; however, the team planned further trials. Correct answer.
  3. The results were inconclusive; the team planned further trials because.
  4. The results were inconclusive; and the team planned further trials.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two independent clauses, and a conjunctive adverb such as 'however' that follows it must be set off by a comma. This sentence satisfies both requirements.

Question 49Verbal Ability

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The auditor's findings were purely ______, offering no recommendations for how the agency might improve its procedures.

  1. prescriptive
  2. proscriptive
  3. prescient
  4. descriptive Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence contrasts findings that only describe with the absence of recommendations, so the needed word means 'serving to describe.' 'Descriptive' fits because it denotes mere description rather than guidance. The clue 'offering no recommendations' rules out any word implying the giving of rules or advice.

Question 50Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon.

  1. The team needed three things for the climb: rope, helmets, and a reliable map. Correct answer.
  2. The team needed three things for the climb, rope, helmets, and a reliable map.
  3. The team needed: three things for the climb, rope, helmets, and a reliable map.
  4. The team needed three things: for the climb, rope, helmets, and a reliable map.

Explanation

A colon must follow a complete independent clause and introduce what that clause announces. In the correct sentence, 'The team needed three things for the climb' is a full clause and the list follows the colon. Placing the colon after an incomplete thought or breaking the list with intervening words violates this rule.