CAT 2013 is passing through its infancy to become fully matured and then fade away in next 20 days. Reminiscences would definitely be there, may be with a pinch of salt. More important however, is to learn what to make most out of it and how to attempt this coveted examination in the remaining CAT window. When it is all over, again the aspirants will learn a few different pieces of advice from toppers of CAT 2013 and the trainers and mentors for CAT 2014. Still there are number of aspirants who are yet to take CAT, what is preventing them to learn the right strategy while learning lessons right from the beginning of CAT 2013. It is better to follow these lessons and march on the path of success.
Vocabulary-1 five days of CAT 2013 from October 16 made it abundantly clear that Vocabulary questions are getting more and more context oriented. The time to learn core synonyms and antonyms or word set in analogy form will not help much. While the first two sessions on October 16, 2013 were deprived of the questions to pick out the correct usage of similar or confused words in sentences, there were 1 to 2 questions in next two sessions on such usage. Questions based on fill in the blanks also remained absent in some of the sets on October 18, 2013 but reappeared in almost all the sets in next session
Guidance and Tips- 1-The time is to learn and go for more contextual usage. The synonyms, even if present in the close answer options, may not be the correct substitute for the right word. It is very much required from now on to go for and practice more on specific contextual usage. Following sentence will make it clear-‘No one objects to exceptional behaviour but everyone objects to exceptionable one’. Both appear similar but exceptional is extra ordinary while exceptionable means not acceptable and so objectionable.
Vocabulary-2 Almost all the four days had two questions based on common words, the meaning of which is even known to a student of std. 5. The words like hand, stand, take, bring, call, turn, stand, let, proliferate are not difficult to understand. You get one word per question, used in four different sentences and are supposed to find out the incorrect use of this word. Obviously, you know it well how to use ‘stand’ or ’hand’. So, where is the catch?
Guidance and Tips-2 -The lesson is to learn the usage of such common placed verbs suffixed by the prepositions which make them phrasal verbs. If you can learn the difference in usage of such phrasal verbs e.g. ‘call up’ ‘call on’ ‘call for’; ‘bring up’ ‘bring out’ ‘bring about’ ‘bring in’; ‘stand in’ ‘stand down’ ‘stand by’ ‘stand against’ ‘slip off’ ‘slip away’ and so on, you will be able to crack at least two questions without facing much difficulty as the sentences are simple and short. The types of questions, expected to appear throughout CAT 2013 and the preparation strategy to solve them may be understood by reading the following article - Tips to solve 6 Vocabulary questions http://www.mbauniverse.com/article/id/7144/Vocabulary-questions-in-CAT-2013
Practice Vocabulary questions with solutions
Direction –question 1 in the following question, more than one word has been used in each sentence. You have to pick out the most appropriate option out of the given options that follow the sentences
The child puked (A)/retched (B) on his mother’s new dress
The felicitation programme will be held at the Governor’s home (A)/residence (B)
In normal circumstances, the huge amount of debt to be repaid may not appear so daunting (A)/encouraging (B) but circumstances are anything but normal.
Cheap money policy has made many emerging economies compliant (A)/complacent (B) about receiving inward capital flows without creating the necessary policy framework.
1. AABB 2.BABA 3.ABAB 4.BBAA
Direction –question 2 - In the following question, more than one word has been used at various places in the paragraph. Such words have been labelled A, B, C, D, E, F and so on. You have to pick out the most appropriate option out of the given options that follow the paragraph.
The creation of Emirate’s specific ability(A)/ capacity(B) entitlements, coupled(C)/troubled(D) with circumspect (E)/unbridled(F) access to all major cities in India for the airlines of the UAE, has already resulted in Dubai establishing itself as the primary spoke(G)/hub(H) for Indian traffic.
1. ADFG 2. BDEH 3. BCFH 4.ACEH
Direction –question 3- In the following question, more than one word has been used in each sentence. You have to pick out the most appropriate option out of the given options that follow the sentences
1. He was sitting forward of (A)/near to (B) me in the plane. I could just see the back of his head.
2. Further to (A)/ next to (B) your letter, I have spoken to Mr Brown.
3. There were two people further to (A) /in addition to (B) me. So that made three of us.
4. He is in favour of (A)/in between (B) the two opinions. He wants to compromise.
1. BBAA 2.AABB 3.ABAB 4.BABA
Direction –Q. 4, 5 & 6 – Below is given a word which has been used in four different ways. Please select the option wherein the word has not been used appropriately.
Q.4 - Compose
A.It is high time that you composed your photos of spectacular landscapes
B.Why don’t you read this article to find out how to compose your own these and variations for piano
C.The committee is composed with people from every department
D.The great musician is in his studio composing music for the new film
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.5 - Insist
A. We insist on gutting the window and installing new ones from scratch.
B. They’ll look at your capacity to repay at increasing rates and will insist a deposit in most circumstances
C. What territorial claims they will insist upon is obviously not the thing one argues about now.
D. Are we going to insist that they must seek our permission to transfer?
a. 1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q. 6 - Slip
A. If you don't have a tangible souvenir, write it on a slip of paper when you do something, and put it in the folder.
B. The researchers created a piece of adhesive, large enough to hold a cover slip on a microscope slide.
C. The pair may have clambered partway down into the cave, only to slip and fall several yards to their deaths.
D. The traffic from the motorway heading for the Trade Fair venue might slip away the road while turning around.
E. I slipped up and put the letter in the wrong envelope.
1. B&C 2. B only 3. A only 4. E only 5. D only
Direction for question 7 & 8- Each of the following questions has a sentence with two blanks. Five pairs of words are given below the questions. Choose the pair that best completes the sentence.
Q.7.Under __________________, the government was mainly concerned about the rich __________, so the country adopted western patent laws.
A. Antipathy; conclave
B. Apartheid; enclave
C. Discrimination; command
D. Apathy; territory
E. Approbation; domain
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.E
Q.8- For many trading ________, however, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be moved around cheaply and _________.
A. Affiliations; promptly
B. plans; nimbly
C Strategies; briskly
D. Alliances ; sluggishly
E. Programmes ; enthusiastically
1. B 2. A 3. C 4. D 5. E
Solution-
Ans.q. 1- 3. ABAB – Puked – vomiting, retched –feel like vomiting but not actually vomiting; home- small living place not palatial, residence – bigger complex – President’s residence, governor’s residence but my home, my father’s home (dwelling place) e.g. Buckingham Palace is the residence of the King of England; Since I am among the staff members of the the Minister, I live in the residence provided to him although my home is in Himachal Pradesh; daunting- critical, discouraging not good, encouraging – conducive, better; compliant – as per the norms, complacent – pleased, satisfied without being aware of potential danger
Ans. Q.2 – 3.BCFH-Explanation – B-capacity of airline not the ability; C-coupled – meaning in addition to another phenomenon; F-unbridled – uncontrolled; H-hub- the region, the centre of the activity. In fact spoke is a small part of the hub.
Ans. Q.3 -2. AABB - Understand the words. They are complex prepositions and are easy to understand. A.you can see the back of head when a person is sitting forward of you; A –you always write further to some writing, discussion etc. Whereas next to is used for placing or seating; B. In addition to – can’t write further to; B- unable to decide which opinion is better, so in between , can’t be in favour of two opinions.
Ans. Q.4 – 3.C – correct use is composed of ….
Ans. Q.5- 2.B – insist on….
Q.6-Ans. 5.D only. Explanation- “...........Write slide off/go off, slip away means –silently going away,sneaking.......”.
Q.7 Ans.2B -Apartheid, enclave - other words are absolutely different and will change the meaning and message of sentence. Apartheid- racial discrimination, Enclave is the area confined to a particular small territory (Rich Enclave) most appropriate. Other Options are not appropriate.
Q.8.Ans.3 C. Strategies: briskly-Other options have totally different usage.
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