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CSE-PPT Subprofessional study materials
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CSE-PPT Subprofessional practice questions

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Question 1Verbal Ability

Choose the word that means the same as "abundant."

  1. fragile
  2. scarce
  3. ample Correct answer.
  4. costly

Explanation

"Abundant" describes something that exists in large quantity or more than enough. "Ample" carries the same sense of being plentiful or sufficient. The other choices describe shortage, price, or delicacy, not quantity.

Question 2Verbal Ability

Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to "expand."

  1. shrink Correct answer.
  2. enlarge
  3. extend
  4. stretch

Explanation

To expand is to grow larger or take up more space. Its antonym must indicate becoming smaller, which is what "shrink" means. The other three words all move in the same direction as expand.

Question 3Verbal Ability

Which of the following words is spelled correctly?

  1. occurence
  2. occurrance
  3. occurrence Correct answer.
  4. ocurrence

Explanation

The root verb "occur" doubles its final consonant before a suffix beginning with a vowel, giving "occurrence" with two c's and two r's. The other spellings drop a consonant or use the wrong vowel in the final syllable.

Question 4Verbal Ability

Which sentence expresses the idea most clearly and concisely?

  1. She repeated the instructions again.
  2. She repeated the instructions once more again.
  3. She said the instructions again repeatedly.
  4. She repeated the instructions. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Repeat" already means to say or do something again, so adding "again" or "once more" creates redundancy. The concise version conveys the complete idea without unnecessary words.

Question 5Verbal Ability

In the sentence "The nurse was meticulous in recording the patient's vital signs," the word "meticulous" means:

  1. reluctant to work
  2. very careful Correct answer.
  3. loud and forceful
  4. hurried and careless

Explanation

Context clues point to precision in record-keeping, which suits a word meaning extremely careful about small details. "Meticulous" praises thoroughness rather than speed, attitude, or volume.

Question 6Verbal Ability

All employees must comply ___ the company's safety regulations.

  1. with Correct answer.
  2. to
  3. for
  4. on

Explanation

The verb "comply" is followed by the fixed preposition "with" in standard English. Prepositional partners are learned as units, and "comply with" means to obey or act in accordance with a rule.

Question 7Verbal Ability

There were ___ people at the rally than we expected.

  1. lesser
  2. fewer Correct answer.
  3. less
  4. little

Explanation

"Fewer" is used with countable nouns such as people, while "less" is used with quantities that cannot be counted one by one. Because the sentence compares a countable number of individuals, "fewer" is required.

Question 8Verbal Ability

The bouquet of fresh roses ___ on the dining table.

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

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "bouquet," which is singular; "of fresh roses" is only a prepositional phrase modifying it. The verb must therefore agree with a singular subject.

Question 9Verbal Ability

The number of applicants ___ steadily since the campaign started.

  1. have been increasing
  2. has increased Correct answer.
  3. have increased
  4. are increasing

Explanation

In the phrase "the number of," the true subject is the singular noun "number," so it takes a singular verb. Only "a number of" takes a plural verb.

Question 10Verbal Ability

When someone says the two neighbors decided to "bury the hatchet," it means that they:

  1. abandon a secret plan
  2. end a quarrel Correct answer.
  3. hide evidence of wrongdoing
  4. refuse to accept advice

Explanation

This idiom refers to putting aside hostility and settling a disagreement peacefully. It concerns reconciliation between people, not concealment or refusal.

Question 11Verbal Ability

The witness's testimony was so ___ that the jury found it impossible to determine what actually happened.

  1. straightforward
  2. well organized
  3. carefully rehearsed
  4. contradictory Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause after "so ... that" states the result: the jury could not determine what happened. The blank must therefore hold a word describing testimony that conflicts with itself.

Question 12Verbal Ability

Each of the female contestants was asked to present ___ talent in three minutes.

  1. them
  2. her Correct answer.
  3. their
  4. it

Explanation

"Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun, so any pronoun referring back to it must also be singular. Because the contestants are identified as female, the singular feminine pronoun "her" is the precise choice.

Question 13Verbal Ability

By the time the doctor arrived, the patient ___ for almost an hour.

  1. has been waiting
  2. had been waiting Correct answer.
  3. is waiting
  4. waits

Explanation

The sentence describes an action that was already in progress before another past event. The past perfect progressive "had been waiting" expresses duration completed up to a point in the past.

Question 14Verbal Ability

Pen is to writer as ___ is to surgeon.

  1. patient
  2. scalpel Correct answer.
  3. hospital
  4. medicine

Explanation

The first pair links a worker to the tool of the trade: a writer works with a pen. The matching relationship for a surgeon is the instrument the surgeon uses, the scalpel.

Question 15Verbal Ability

The new policy will greatly ___ the way documents are processed.

  1. affect Correct answer.
  2. effect
  3. effecting
  4. affects

Explanation

"Affect" is the verb meaning to influence something, while "effect" is normally a noun meaning result. After the modal "will," the base form of the verb is required.

Question 16Verbal Ability

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. Before the meeting started, the chairperson, reviewed the agenda.
  2. Before the meeting started, the chairperson reviewed the agenda. Correct answer.
  3. Before the meeting, started the chairperson reviewed the agenda.
  4. Before the meeting started the chairperson reviewed, the agenda.

Explanation

An introductory dependent clause is followed by a comma, and no comma should separate a verb from its object. Only the last sentence places the single comma in the right position.

Question 17Verbal Ability

The job requires the ability to type accurately, to file documents promptly, and ___.

  1. the courteous answering of phones
  2. answering the phone courteously
  3. to answer the phone courteously Correct answer.
  4. courteous phone answering

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. The first two items are infinitive phrases, so the third must also be an infinitive phrase beginning with "to."

Question 18Verbal Ability

Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to "frugal."

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

Explanation

A frugal person is economical and avoids unnecessary spending. The antonym must describe someone who spends carelessly, which is the meaning of "wasteful."

Question 19Verbal Ability

The team practiced hard all season; ___, they lost the championship game.

  1. therefore
  2. moreover
  3. likewise
  4. however Correct answer.

Explanation

The second clause states an outcome that runs against what the first clause would lead us to expect. A contrast signal such as "however" is needed to mark that reversal.

Question 20Verbal Ability

Read the passage: "Many sari-sari stores in rural barangays open before sunrise and close long after dark. Owners say the long hours matter more than low prices: customers buy from whichever store is open when they need something." According to the passage, why do owners keep such long hours?

  1. Because customers buy from whichever store is open Correct answer.
  2. Because barangay rules require stores to stay open from dawn to midnight
  3. Because owners want to charge higher prices during peak hours
  4. Because owners have no other source of income during the year

Explanation

The passage directly states that customers buy from whichever store is open when they need something. The owners' long hours are explained by this buying behavior, which the passage says matters more than low prices.

Question 21Verbal Ability

Which sentence is written correctly?

  1. Having finished the report, it was emailed to her manager by Ana.
  2. Having finished the report, the email was sent to her manager.
  3. Having finished the report, the manager received it by email from Ana.
  4. Having finished the report, Ana emailed it to her manager. Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. Only the first sentence places the doer of the action, Ana, immediately after the phrase.

Question 22Verbal Ability

Four sentences are given: (A) Finally, the finished pots are baked slowly in a kiln. (B) Making a clay pot starts with wedging the clay. (C) Next, the soft clay is shaped carefully on a potter's wheel. (D) After shaping, the pot is set aside to dry thoroughly before firing. Which sentence should come first if the four are arranged into one paragraph?

  1. Finally, the finished pots are baked slowly in a kiln.
  2. Next, the soft clay is shaped carefully on a potter's wheel.
  3. Making a clay pot starts with wedging the clay. Correct answer.
  4. After shaping, the pot is set aside to dry thoroughly before firing.

Explanation

The paragraph describes a process in chronological order. The sentence that introduces the first step, wedging the clay, belongs at the beginning. Signal words such as "next," "after," and "finally" mark the steps that must follow.

Question 23Verbal Ability

In the sentence "The senator's remarks were so equivocal that reporters left unsure of his position," the word "equivocal" means:

  1. brief and blunt
  2. angry and accusatory
  3. deliberately vague Correct answer.
  4. fully documented

Explanation

The result clause tells us reporters could not tell where the senator stood. A word meaning intentionally unclear or open to more than one interpretation fits that result.

Question 24Verbal Ability

Hidden behind the thick curtains ___ a set of old photographs.

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

Explanation

The sentence is inverted, so the subject follows the verb. The subject is "a set," a singular collective noun, and the verb must agree with it in the past tense.

Question 25Verbal Ability

Although the mayor's speech was intended to ___ the growing anxiety among residents, it in fact worsened their fears.

  1. aggravate
  2. allay Correct answer.
  3. prolong
  4. announce

Explanation

The word "Although" signals a contrast between the intended effect and the actual one. Since the speech worsened fears, the blank must mean the opposite: to calm or reduce anxiety, which is what "allay" means.

Question 26Verbal Ability

Choose the word closest in meaning to "swift."

  1. quick Correct answer.
  2. slow
  3. heavy
  4. calm

Explanation

"Swift" describes something that moves or happens very fast. Among the choices, "quick" carries the same idea of speed. The remaining words describe pace, weight, or mood in ways that do not match.

Question 27Verbal Ability

Neither the manager nor the employees ___ willing to work on the holiday.

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

Explanation

In a "neither...nor" construction, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. The nearer subject is "employees," which is plural, so the plural verb "were" is required.

Question 28Verbal Ability

Between you and ___, the schedule is unrealistic.

  1. me Correct answer.
  2. mine
  3. I
  4. myself

Explanation

"Between" is a preposition, so the pronoun that follows must be in the objective case. The objective form is "me."

Question 29Verbal Ability

She is very good ___ solving crossword puzzles.

  1. for
  2. on
  3. in
  4. at Correct answer.

Explanation

The fixed expression for skill or ability is "good at" followed by a noun or gerund. "Good at solving" follows this pattern correctly.

Question 30Verbal Ability

Teacher is to classroom as chef is to ___.

  1. restaurant
  2. knife
  3. kitchen Correct answer.
  4. recipe

Explanation

The relationship is between a worker and the place where the work is mainly done. A teacher works in a classroom, and a chef works in a kitchen.

Question 31Verbal Ability

Which of the following correctly separates the two independent clauses?

  1. The rain stopped, the game continued.
  2. The rain stopped; the game continued. Correct answer.
  3. The rain stopped, and the game, continued.
  4. The rain stopped the game continued.

Explanation

Two independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon without a conjunction. A comma alone creates a comma splice, and no punctuation creates a run-on.

Question 32Verbal Ability

The test was difficult; ___, most students passed.

  1. moreover
  2. therefore
  3. however Correct answer.
  4. otherwise

Explanation

The second clause contrasts with the first: the test was hard, yet students passed. A contrast transition such as "however" is needed.

Question 33Verbal Ability

Read the passage: "The barangay library extended its hours until 9 p.m. During the first month, visits by students doubled." What can be inferred?

  1. Longer hours likely drew more students. Correct answer.
  2. Students stopped visiting during the day.
  3. The librarian refused to work at night.
  4. The library bought many new books that month.

Explanation

The passage links extended hours with a rise in student visits during the same month. The most reasonable inference is that the longer schedule encouraged more students to come.

Question 34Verbal Ability

In the sentence "The clerk's perfunctory apology did little to satisfy the customer," the word "perfunctory" most nearly means ___.

  1. angry
  2. sincere
  3. routine Correct answer.
  4. lengthy

Explanation

"Perfunctory" describes an action done routinely, without genuine interest or care. That is why the apology failed to satisfy the customer.

Question 35Verbal Ability

By next month, the company ___ its new branch in Davao.

  1. will have opened Correct answer.
  2. opened
  3. opens
  4. will have been opening

Explanation

The phrase "by next month" points to an action completed before a future time. That meaning requires the future perfect "will have opened."

Question 36Verbal Ability

Choose the sentence that correctly completes the idea: Walking along the beach, ___.

  1. the children collected shells Correct answer.
  2. shells were being collected
  3. the shells were collected by the children
  4. collecting shells happened

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase modifies the subject of the main clause. The subject that can be "walking along the beach" is "the children," so the main clause must begin with them.

Question 37Verbal Ability

Choose the correct phrase.

  1. a honest answers
  2. a honest answer
  3. an honest answer Correct answer.
  4. an honest answers

Explanation

The article "an" is used before a vowel sound, and the "h" in "honest" is silent. The noun "answer" is singular, so "answer" is correct.

Question 38Verbal Ability

The seminar taught us to listen carefully, to speak clearly, and ___.

  1. to write persuasively Correct answer.
  2. persuasive writing
  3. we wrote persuasively
  4. writing with persuasion

Explanation

Items in a series must have parallel grammatical form. The first two items are infinitives ("to listen," "to speak"), so the third should also be an infinitive.

Question 39Verbal Ability

This route is ___ than the one we took yesterday.

  1. more short
  2. shortest
  3. shorter Correct answer.
  4. short

Explanation

The word "than" signals a comparison between two things, which requires the comparative form. For a one-syllable adjective like "short," the comparative is formed by adding "-er."

Question 40Verbal Ability

Which arrangement makes a coherent paragraph? (A) Next, add the sliced ginger and let it simmer for five minutes. (B) Finally, strain the liquid into a cup and add honey. (C) Making ginger tea begins with boiling water in a small pot. (D) After that, remove the pot from the heat.

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

Explanation

A process paragraph starts with the first step and follows sequence signals. "Begins" introduces the first step, "Next" and "After that" order the middle steps, and "Finally" marks the last.

Question 41Verbal Ability

When a coworker says she will "touch base" with you tomorrow, she means she will ___.

  1. cancel the meeting
  2. arrive early
  3. call you briefly Correct answer.
  4. ignore you

Explanation

"Touch base" is an idiom meaning to make brief contact or check in with someone. It does not refer to canceling or arriving early.

Question 42Verbal Ability

Which word should be removed to make the sentence concise? "The final outcome of the experiment was successful."

  1. final Correct answer.
  2. successful
  3. The
  4. outcome

Explanation

An outcome is already the final result, so "final" repeats information contained in "outcome." Removing it makes the sentence tighter without changing the meaning.

Question 43Verbal Ability

Neither of the boys brought ___ lunch.

  1. his Correct answer.
  2. their
  3. there
  4. its

Explanation

"Neither" is singular, so the pronoun referring back to it must also be singular. Since the antecedent refers to boys, the correct possessive pronoun is "his."

Question 44Verbal Ability

Choose the word opposite in meaning to "scarce."

  1. rare
  2. thin
  3. abundant Correct answer.
  4. restricted

Explanation

"Scarce" means in short supply or hard to find. Its opposite is "abundant," which means plentiful.

Question 45Verbal Ability

___ the heavy rain, the parade pushed through.

  1. Because
  2. Unless
  3. Despite Correct answer.
  4. Although

Explanation

"Despite" is followed by a noun phrase ("the heavy rain") and expresses contrast. "Although" would require a full clause with a subject and verb.

Question 46Verbal Ability

Choose the correct sentence.

  1. The new rule will effecting all employees.
  2. The new rule will affects all employees.
  3. The new rule will effect all employees.
  4. The new rule will affect all employees. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Affect" is a verb meaning to influence. "Effect" is usually a noun meaning result, and after "will" the base verb form is required.

Question 47Verbal Ability

Read the passage: "For years, the town's market was held along the main road, causing traffic jams every Saturday. When the local government moved the market to a covered site two blocks away, vendors worried they would lose customers. Within three months, however, sales had risen and traffic had eased." What is the main idea?

  1. Vendors always resist government decisions.
  2. Moving the market helped vendors and eased traffic. Correct answer.
  3. The covered site was more expensive to maintain.
  4. Saturday traffic jams are completely unavoidable in this town.

Explanation

The passage states that after the move, sales rose and traffic eased, showing benefits for both vendors and the town. The vendors' earlier worry serves only as contrast.

Question 48Verbal Ability

Among the requirements ___ a valid ID and a birth certificate.

  1. was
  2. is
  3. are Correct answer.
  4. being

Explanation

The sentence is inverted, so the true subject follows the verb: "a valid ID and a birth certificate." This compound subject is plural, so the plural verb "are" is required.

Question 49Verbal Ability

If the supervisor ___ the report earlier, we would have met the deadline.

  1. has submitted
  2. would submit
  3. submitted
  4. had submitted Correct answer.

Explanation

This is a third conditional sentence about an unreal past situation. The if-clause takes the past perfect "had submitted," and the main clause takes "would have met."

Question 50Verbal Ability

Which sentence best combines these ideas? "The bridge was closed." "The commuters used the ferry."

  1. The bridge was closed, so using the ferry by commuters.
  2. The bridge was closed, the commuters used the ferry.
  3. The bridge was closed and the ferry used commuters.
  4. Because the bridge was closed, commuters took the ferry. Correct answer.

Explanation

The two ideas have a cause-and-effect relationship, which "because" expresses clearly in one sentence. The result clause must also have a complete subject and verb.